On the final day of the NBA season and hours before Game 7 of the Finals, the Phoenix Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. With this being his 5th team in his 18th season, how will the team perform? What came of the other destinations for KD? What does this mean for the Suns? Let’s dive right into this blockbuster trade!
Who Gets What
The Phoenix Suns are trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. Whenever a trade happens, everyone worries about who goes what on their end of the deal. H-Town traded Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the number 10th pick in this year’s NBA Draft, and five second-round picks. It is a haul for a player entering his 18th season.
What Does This Mean for the Rockets?
For the Rockets, this means they are firmly in contention for the title for at least next season. With the addition of KD, it added one of the best pure scorers of all time to one of the best defensive teams in the NBA last season. Houston has their “I need a bucket” player. With the length they already have, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Tari Eason, this could be a hell of a team next season. They have already gone from 18-1 to win the NBA Title next season to a +850.
Sun Sets in Phoenix
As for the Suns, this is a “soft reset” for a team that has had numerous miscues since their 2021 Finals appearance. From trading away the team’s future for KD, then going top-heavy by acquiring a bad contract with Bradley Beal. Getting a young star in Jalen Green, who is only 23 years old, next to Devin Booker should be electric. Now, this trade doesn’t address many of their issues; however, fixing the Suns’ organization is a topic for a different day.
Final Thoughts
My immediate reaction is that this is great for Houston in getting off the high-ceiling-low-floor player of Green and making a “win now” move in the Western Conference. For Phoenix, it won’t fix their issues, but it’s a start in the right direction. Another team interested in KD was the Miami Heat, who refused to offer Jaime Jaquez, Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, the 20th pick, and other draft assets. However, the Suns chose the Rockets’ deal. This is an exciting trade, and Rockets fans should be excited for the next two seasons!
