Proposed 3-Team Trade Would Land Kevin Durant in Houston This Summer
The Kevin Durant Sweepstakes will be the story of the summer in the NBA, as he is going to be traded... It's just a question as to where and when.
There are a number of leading suitors, one of which is the Houston Rockets. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report has proposed a three-team deal that would get KC to Houston:
Houston Rockets Receive:
- Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns Receive:
- Lauri Markkanen
- Jock Landale
- Lower 2025 first-rounder from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Suns
- (via Rockets or Jazz)
Utah Jazz Receive:
- Reed Sheppard (from Rockets)
- Jabari Smith Jr. (from Rockets)
- Cam Whitmore (from Rockets)
- Aaron Holiday (from Rockets)
- Jeff Green (from Rockets)
- Jae'Sean Tate (from Rockets)
- Higher 2025 first-rounder from the Timberwolves and Suns (via Rockets)
- $20.4 million trade exception (Markkanen)
Why the Rockets would do it is obvious...They get one of the game's all-time
greats, and a two-time champion to hopefully help shepherd the
up-and-coming team to the promised land.
As for the Suns, the question must be asked, Wouldn't they just be better off
getting the huge haul of talent from the Rockets and keeping it themselves to
rebuild? Not when you consider they are still insistent on trying to build a winner
around Devin Booker. Laurie Markkanen isa star player, with the size and
scoring ability that at least closely approximates Durant's (though obviously,
no one can replace KD completely).
Instead, it would be the Jazz that could continue their never-ending rebuild,
bringing in high-level prospects like Sheppard, Whitmore and Smith, and
divesting from Markkanen just as he's potentially on the other side of his prime
(turning 29 after the season) with four more years and almost $200M to run on his
massive contract.
Photo: © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
