Durant traded to Houston for Green, Brooks, #10 pick, and multiple 2nd rounders

Barf

 

https://www.theringer.com/2025/06/17/nba/kevin-durant-trade-rumors-houston-rockets-nba-finals-2025

 

he's still 36!

youth movement lives!

 

I do not like the trade, but I do see one bright spot. Kevin Durant might be VERY good for Jabari Smith to watch and learn from.

So there's that at least...

 

If KD is 34 that is good deal but he is 37 right now I dont like it

Anther side Tilman Cheap Fertitta need damage a lot of money in the next three years otherwise this move is make no sense

 

Wow. To accept that package with that in mind………Durant must have really had them over a barrel.

 

I still remain a proud alumni of Fck Fred University…I graduated Summa c*m Laude

 

It’s almost like the reports of the Suns not wanting Jalen Green were wrong

 

The look on KD's face when he's told he's benn traded to Houston doesn't scream excitement.



Looks like someone tod him his dog died before recovering and putting on a fake smile.

Maybe thats not what's really going on, but that's what his facial expressions and response look like to me.

 

I like the trade. Five second round picks is kind of irking me a bit because I love the hunt for the hidden gem, although I know I shouldn’t let it bother me much in this instance.

 

Initial thoughts -

-pretty clear the rockets had little faith that Jalen would take that leap to be a star player that could lead the team in the playoffs. Can’t really blame them for giving up on him.

-Losing Brooks was probably the hardest decision to make. Mostly because I think he’s really going to be a major glue guy for them and really turn that phoenix team around from a grit and toughness perspective. It helps Booker mostly since it’ll truly be his team and if they put a couple more pieces around him they could be a competitive 6 to 8 seed for a few years which does diminish the future pick value.

-Trading this years 10th im okay with because we’d likely be red shirting that rookie anyways

-Wouldn’t be shocked if we see little of KD the first half of the season. This is truly Amen and Sengun’s team at least in the regular season. I see Stone and Ime seeing this as trading Jalen for an elevated Amen Thompson moving forward. Big bet on Amen being the guy.

-I would suspect the Rockets made this deal with everyone already accepting the Rockets extending KD for his final career payday. It sucks but that had to be the under the table agreement for KD to endorse the trade.

-Obv Stone retained enough assets to make another star trade. However I’m skeptical they’ll do that now. I think they’ll want to evaluate Amen and Sengun for another season with KD there to make their life easier.

 

I disagree that we got worse defensively, now Amen and Jabari are together in the starting lineup and Jalen isn't. I think at worst that's a push, at best it's an improvement defensively

 

No - he wasn’t a long term cornerstone. He made them competitive and professional. He was well paid for what he did, and Stone & Udoka (to their credit) got exactly what they hoped from Brooks.

 

#10+fillers for KD is a great deal! Props to Stone.

 

He just looks blazed.

 

Only thing im thinking is KD and FVV take less money, which wouldnt be a big deal that it being the last wheel maybe of there careers?
Rockets could maybe afford 1 or 2 more pieces that fit for championship run to get pass OKC? who knows.

Yet its obvious they wanted to get rid of Jalen and Brooks contracts.

 

I am struggling to remember... I mean MEM traded Bane to ORL this year as well

Before this year, I cannot think of any superstars traded during the playoffs.

CoPilot was of no assistance... gonna go old school to Basketball Reference to find out

 

Stone not giving Phoenix back any of their firsts for their best player and still consummating a deal is immaculate.

 

I’m one of the biggest Jalen supporters on the board and this is a great trade. Letting Amen Play shooting guard with this sort of spacing will absolutely work and this gives us the chance to allow read and Cam to show what they can do.

Dillom improved his shooting, but who knows if it was sustainable and he certainly was not great in the playoffs. Time for Tari to take those minutes.

 

Can’t wait to see Durant raise up and swish a 3 after coming ‘round a brutal concrete wall Steven Adams pick.

 

Point guard, 3 wings and a center.
Goon, Bari, KD, Amen, FVV
Tari, Sheppard, Whitmore, Adams off the bench
Whitmore and Sheppard will finally get some solid rotation minutes.
That still a freaking solid starting 5 and 9 man rotation.