Connect with us
Burn+

Phoenix Suns

Insider: ‘Definite connections’ between Kevin Durant and Rockets

© Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA world and Suns’ fans were sent into a frenzy yesterday when ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Houston Rockets wanted to trade for Kevin Durant.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

This news came after the Brooklyn Nets dealt Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks. Right after this trade, Wojnarowski reported that the Rockets had traded multiple picks with the Nets and now posses a pick swap with Suns in 2025, the Suns’ pick in 2027 and could end up with the Suns’ pick in 2029 based on contingencies. The Nets had originally acquired this draft capital when they traded Durant to the Suns in Feb. 2023.

Wojnarowski added that Houston was hoping to use these picks to give them back to the Suns in exchange for Durant.

Several reports have refuted that Durant will be traded this summer, and Wojnarowski himself reported the “Suns have said they’re keeping Durant for now, but that could change next season.” General manager and president of basketball operations James Jones has already said the Suns won’t be trading any of the team’s Big 3 of Durant, Devin Booker or Bradley Beal this offseason.

Yet ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on ESPN’s UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio this morning that the Rockets are looking to make a deal with the Suns right now.

“(Houston) made this trade specifically to attempt to make a deal with the Suns, and they did it to make a deal with the Suns now,” Windhorst said. “Now, to my knowledge, Kevin Durant has not asked for a trade. However, there are definite connections between Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.”

Windhorst later aded on ESPN’s Get Up show that the Rockets could include their potential future star center in 21-year-old Alperen Şengün in a package for Durant if they are to draft a center in tonight’s 2024 NBA Draft with the No. 3 overall pick.

“One thing I want to point out: watch what the Rockets do tonight with the number three pick,” Windhorst said. “This is one of the most important moments of the draft, and in many cases, this is where the draft kind of starts. If the Rockets take Donovan Clingan out of UConn, another center, which is an option for them, and now have a bunch of centers on their roster, that would potentially enable them to make Alperen Sengun, their very talented young Turkish center, available in that type of trade to dangle in front of the Suns.”

(h/t @TheDunkCentral)

Durant, who will be 36 at the start of next season, has two years left on his four-year, $194.2 million contract. He is also eligible for a one-year extension this offseason.

The Suns gave up a lot of their future pieces, most notably Bridges and these first-round picks, to acquire Durant from Brooklyn ahead of the trade deadline in Feb. 2023. Even at age 35 and five years removed from an Achilles tear, Durant still played in 75 games this past season and averaged the fifth-most points in the NBA at 27.1 per game on 52.3/41.3/85.6 shooting splits to go along with 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists. The 16-year veteran forward was then named to the All-NBA Second Team.

Buckle up for what could be a wild NBA Draft day today. The Suns hold the No. 22 overall pick.

Kevin Durant responds to tweet in midst of trade rumors

*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, exclusive content, and access to our seasonal magazines! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*

Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau

Related Topics

Burn City Radio

More in Phoenix Suns