Yes, he's old and expensive. However... Durant is a go-to wing scorer who fills the Rockets' primary need. Not only does he score efficiently, he also scores from the perimeter in a manner that generates more points per shot (3>2) and creates space for our 2 best players (Thompson & Sengun) who do the vast majority of their scoring in the paint. Further, Durant doesn't need to dominate the ball to score. Unlike Giannis or other ball-dominate scorers, his presence would allow Thompson, Sengun, and even Sheppard to develop as creators instead of just standing around and waiting for the ball. Furthermore, Durant is also a long, smart, and willing defender who would fit well in a frontcourt rotation with Bari, Tari, Sengun, and a resigned Steven Adams. He might not have the energy to dominate on defense every night, but that's okay because... Durant's age would have a silver (no pun intended) lining. Shorter minutes and scheduled rest for Durant would give our younger players (Bari, Tari, even Cam) opportunities to thrive. Durant needs less minutes and they need more. Also, Durant would give our younger players a confidence boost. Anyone who has ever played basketball will tell you how having an alpha on your team increases the confidence and play of everyone on your side. But what is Durant's financial cost? Certainly you would need to extend him, but it would only be for a few more years, which could keep your cap sheet clean for an eventual Thompson extension and a possible Sheppard extension. And what is Durant's asset cost? I would suggest trading Jalen, Dillon, and two of the Suns' picks for him. That keeps the young core together minus only Jalen, who everyone has already voted off the island. The picks are valuable, yes, but the Suns won't trade Durant for nothing. Finally, unlike a Giannis deal, a Durant move raises your ceiling now without strip mining a team that finished 2nd in the West. (Besides, does anyone really think that Giannis and Amen fit together offensively?) Durant is the lesser player but might be the greater value all things considered.
Durant absolutely needs the ball to score and always has. Crazy ideas. He's 37, has killed many coaches now, hasn't had a truly good playoff run in 5 years, forget about the raw numbers. His rate stats have decreased dramatically and the Suns and Nets got killed with him on the court from 2022 to 2024 in the playoffs. It is no exaggeration to say Amen Thompson is better than him. And it's not because he's a better scorer. It's because Durant's scoring is not as dominant as it once was, and he's never been a great passer or defender, and now he's an old mediocre defender and passer. KD is basically Thunder Melo with 20% more skill.
There are several factors with KD. First, he makes a LOT of money and his deal is almost up, he is going to want an extension wherever he goes. Next year Kevin Durant makes $55,000,000. A two-year extension is likely going to cost $100,000,000 or more. So, that really hinders the Rockets from a cap perspective unless they get him to play without an extension. That also means that the Rockets better be sure that KD is "the guy" because his money is massive and restricts what the Rockets can do. Second, Durant is going to be 37 years old and has a lengthy injury history. Are the Rockets willing to risk losing him for the season? For the playoffs? Third - while KD helps the Rockets as a creator for himself and as a shooter, he really doesn't create a lot for others in the traditional sense. Fourth - what will the assets be for KD? Does the trade hinder the Rockets long term?
You did address this (he would play less, our forwards more) but old man Katy won’t last playing 38 minutes for Udoka. Shams says they’re interested. Marc Stein & Jake Fischer continue to say they’re actually not that interested. “As Fischer details, pundits figure to repeatedly link Suns forward Kevin Durant to Houston this summer for a number of reasons — the Rockets control several Phoenix draft assets; Durant played college ball at Texas and played in Oklahoma City alongside close friend and Rockets assistant Royal Ivey; and Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was an assistant during KD’s time in Brooklyn. However, Fischer insists that “more indications than not” suggests Houston’s interest in Durant has been overstated.” https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/05/rockets-notes-offseason-durant-vanvleet-whitmore-sheppard.html They bet against him in Brooklyn. They bet against him in Phoenix. Are they actually interested? I’m kinda skeptical. Or might they trade those Suns picks back to Phoenix for the picks from Katy’s next team?
He's my favorite option if we can get him to agree to a 1+1 extension (second year team option). Would cost less than half what Giannis would cost and he can influence his destination unlike Giannis. He draws the double team we need and can close games. We have the depth to restrict his minutes even after a trade. I think he can be had for FVV + Cam + 1 good pick + 2nd rounders.
He has one, maybe two more years left at best at this level of play--there's even a real possibility he has a huge decline next season. I would take him if the cost in terms of valuable trade assets was like one FRP and we were trading just Brooks + filler to match the salaries. Maybe I would consider sending Jalen instead of Brooks, if there is a plan to acquire a Coby White or some such to replace him. Anything more than that and I am a HARD pass. And no, I wouldn't trade FVV for him, makes no sense to get rid of our veteran leader / coach on the floor if we're making a win-now play like KD. To be clear I don't think the above deals get done. Phoenix will want more, and they will get more from a different team. I doubt KD is going to be a Rocket, basically.
They are interested if he is still around after they pursue other options and if the Suns will unload him for the right price. There is going to be some team that will look at KD as a piece that will put them over the top and they will be willing to trade more than the Rockets ... look around the league for teams that are pretty good, but have not won it all and have pressure on them....... Minnesota, New York, LAC...... OKC? SA? Someone will see that he gets you 27 a game on 50/40/90 and doesn't need the ball in his hands.
He's 37 and missed full seasons before with injuries, he's not going to get healthier with age playing pro sports but worse. He'll be 50 million plus, limiting our options. If you want a cautionary tale look at Philly this year. Morey tied his team to 40-60 million each in Paul George and Embiid. Embiid will make 230 million guaranteed money and will likely only play part time during that contract. KD is more durable than that of course, but sacrificing promising youth by panicking for short term results at the cost of long term is impatient and how treadmill teams are made. They did all this during this season at age 22, at least four years from even being near their primes or peaks and they have significantly improved each season.
Something to think about as KD becomes a middle aged ballhandler: KD in his last 3 playoffs(2022-2024): 19.4 PER, 59.3 TS%, 2.8 BPM His teams when he's on the court: -6.5 Net rating His teams when he's off the court: +6.8 Net rating -13.3 on/off rating. Swept twice in 3 years. And in one of the losses, Devin Booker tried to carry his old ass with 31/5/8 on 68 TS% against the Champ Nuggets. KD shot below league average, played bad defense and got the loss. Amen Thompson vs the Warriors: 19 PER, 3.7 BPM +4.9 on/off rating. It's a new era. Old men don't dominate this game. Either get Booker, his far superior teammate against elite defensive athletes come playoff time, or get no one. The Rockets don't even need to make moves to improve. Their best players are college aged. They will improve the team themselves.
I think the Suns' own picks will have greater value than whatever those other teams are actually willing to pay (as opposed to what they could pay).
If Suns want to retool around Booker I would think they would at least want FVV & (1 or both) Brooks or Tari + their pick They probably see FVV & Brooks as a stable retooling then throwing Jalen in there + be off their books sooner I’m all for Durant. Only star that won’t strip the team of assets and helps spacing
I bet they would value their own picks over Tari. They are in salary cap hell and Tari is going to get a big raise.
I don’t know the cap stuff but I assume they’d probably look at FVV & Brooks and they really want to retool and compete after looking how much they helped the rockets
It’s really hard for me to imagine Stone/Udoka/Patrick deciding that bringing KD in is the move that makes us contenders and keeps us there for 4-5 years. Tilman didn’t suffer through the tanking humiliation to risk everything on an aging star, especially since he’s been down that aging star route twice and it fell short both times. And CP3 and Westbrook were 5-7 years younger than KD will be before next season.
With the exception of 2025, the PHX assets shouldn't be part of any KD deal. For Booker...yes. KD is tempting, but we should probably stay away.. Again, age and injury history...risk of sudden drop off is there. He's worth less now than at the deadline. Cam + #9..maybe that's too rich for MY tastes, but I'm sure most would pull the trigger. Certainly more than another team would offer....
we're 15 years too late. katie should be preparing for retirement and setting up his own pod instead of worrying about championships
Yes and he's injury prone at this age. I know it was mentioned before but I don't think it's getting enough stress. Secondly, and for me this is key, he won't play by Ime's rules. I love Ime but he's got a very very healthy(?) ego. KD is the pinnacle of entitlement and I just don't see him buying into the culture very well. No thank you.
After watching the Brooklyn picks go back just to grease the wheels, I have a strong feeling the same thing will happen when/if Suns decide to tank. Giving them back for KD is horrendous imo. I don't want old KD, plain and simple. "Interest in a KD deal" can just mean the Rockets want to play 3rd party, send Suns picks back and continue pushing assets down the line, maybe getting a little something here or there.
