Kevin Durant trades eyes from Rockets after landing draft picks from Nets

The Houston Rockets have made a pick swap with the Brooklyn Nets in hopes of trading for Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

The Rockets received the rights to the Suns’ 2027 first-round pick, which Wojnarowski said would make it “easier” for Houston to trade for Durant.

“The Suns have said they will keep Durant for now, but that could change next season,” Wojnarowski wrote. “But now, Houston has the choices to rebuild the Suns roster. »

The Nets received their 2026 first-round pick, previously owed to the Rockets, as part of the deal.

The Rockets also acquired the right to trade their 2025 first-round pick, which currently belongs to either Houston or the Oklahoma City Thunder, for the Suns’ 2025 first-round pick, Wojnarowski reported.

The team waives its right to trade for the Nets’ 2025 first-round pick as part of the deal.

Houston also got the most favorable first-round pick from the Suns and Mavericks in 2029, as well as the right to trade its own first-round pick for the least favorable overall, according to Wojnarowski.

With the ability to control the Suns’ picks for 2025, 2027 and 2029, the Rockets have now recouped some of the draft capital the Suns sent to Brooklyn as part of their 2023 trade for Durant.

However, Wojnarowski noted that Houston isn’t completely committed to using those picks to trade for Durant, who currently has two seasons remaining on his contract with the Suns.

“As intrigued as the Rockets are about Durant, they are determined to use the Suns’ picks to be aggressive on deals elsewhere,” Wojnarowski wrote.

The Rockets could still potentially use the picks to make a deal with the Suns, even if they don’t pursue Durant. Wojnarowski noted that Houston is “in a prime position” to make an offer on Phoenix guard Devin Booker.

Durant enters his campaign at age 36, but remains a trade target after averaging 27.1 points in 75 starts last season. The Suns will have to decide if they want to capitalize on that value or if they want to go back with their main trio of Durant, Booker and Bradley Beal.