The Rockets might’ve had some back and forth with the Suns on KD.
The Houston Rockets are no strangers to big game hunting. For as seemingly as long as I can remember — and I’ve been a Rockets fan since 1986 — the Rockets have been tied to just about any big star that hits the market, and of course, have pulled off more than their fair share. From Moses Malone, to Clyde Drexler, to Tracy McGrady, to Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook, this is a team you can never count out when it comes to wheelin’ and dealin’ and at NBA Trade Deadline.
So when the rumors once again began swirling around Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns, the Rockets were reportedly interested, according to The Athletic. Houston has exceeded expectations all season, and with the team in a recent slump and feeling the injury bug, it’s not hard to see how Rafael Stone would be ready to take a big swing at a title run by acquiring Durant.
However, not long after that report, Marc Stein retorted that the Rockets are officially out on Durant. Stein says:
“It is strongly believed that Houston remains uninterested in considering a significant in-season change to its roster, even for someone as accomplished as Durant.”
That goes in line with what we’ve been hearing from Stone all season, in that he loves the group in Houston and wants them to grow together. Who knows how close talks got for Durant or if they even really occurred at all, but it appears the Rockets are out on KD.
Now Devin Booker, on the other hand, Houston has reportedly expressed their fondness for Book, and with the Rockets holding all that Phoenix draft capital, it could be their way of enticing a potentially rebuilding Suns squad to send them the apple of their eye. The Suns thus far reportedly haven’t wanted to move Booker.
We’ll keep an eye on each situation, but for now, it’s status quo other then the Jaden Springer deal.