The NBA trade deadline is almost here. Teams are starting to make the last-minute moves that could shape not only the rest of the 2024-25 NBA season but also their future. Recently, Kevin Durant trade rumors have started to pick up as it seems like the Suns could be willing to part with their franchise star. Marc Stein recently reported that although the Golden State Warriors have been the team most linked to Durant, the Suns are having conversations with other teams as well. A report from The Athletic said that the Houston Rockets are contemplating making a move for Durant before the trade deadline. The question is, should they do it?
Should The Houston Rockets Trade For Kevin Durant?
Kevin Durant Trade Rumors
A few days ago, it was crazy to think that the Phoenix Suns might be shopping around Durant. The team was linked in multiple trade rumors to Jimmy Butler as well as multiple other players. Then the Lakers traded Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic, and the entire NBA seemed to explode. All of a sudden, every NBA star appears to be on the table, and the Suns may be taking this opportunity to reshape their future.
Right now the Suns are the 9th seed in the West with a record of 25-24. This is not where the team was hoping to be when they teamed Devin Booker up with Durant and Bradley Beal. Should the Suns flip Durant for some younger pieces that may fit better long-term with their franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Booker? Additionally, the Rockets own the Suns’ picks meaning they could make the most intriguing offer for Durant.
Houston Rockets Trade Rumors
The Rockets have been softly linked to multiple players throughout this season. It is no wonder, as the team has a history of big game hunting, and they are currently primed to put together pretty strong trade packages.
The Rockets not only have multiple young players that could garner interest on the trade market, but they also have significant draft capital they could add to sweeten a deal. Marc Stein did report however that the Rockets are still not dying to make a trade mid-season that breaks up their current young core.
Should the Rockets Trade for Durant?
Although the Rockets could make a strong trade package for Durant, taking a swing for the 36-year-old right now is not in their best interest. First of all, why mess with what is working? The Rockets are currently third in the Western Conference at 32-18 and having one of their best seasons in years.
They are young, feisty, and crazy athletic. So why trade what they have for Durant who currently doesn’t even have his team out of the play-in Tournament? The Grizzlies and Thunder, who are ahead of the Rockets in the standings, are also young and up-and-coming, while the lower portion of the Western Conference standings is full of aging superstars.
There is a new wave of talent running the West, and the Rockets sacrificing their current team for an aging superstar just doesn’t make sense. The Rockets’ rebuild is way ahead of schedule. They should play out this season and re-evaluate their needs in the offseason once they see how they fare in the blood bath that will be the Western Conference playoffs.
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