A blockbuster trade proposal has the Phoenix Suns dealing superstar Kevin Durant to a Western Conference heavyweight in a move that would turn the NBA upside down.
The Suns are coming off one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, going 36-46 after a run of four consecutive playoff appearances. The organization fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after just one season and named Brian Gregory the new GM, with James Jones getting demoted from that spot into a senior advisor role.
Phoenix went all-in two years ago by acquiring Kevin Durant in a 2023 trade deadline deal with the Brooklyn Nets. The team has mustered a single postseason series victory since the deal, a clear-cut indicator that it’s time to start over.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley proposed a massive trade idea that has Phoenix trading Durant to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Fred VanVleet, Cam Whitmore and first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2028:
“Should they deal Durant—or even Devin Booker—they’d likely prefer to do business with the Suns, who control three of their next five first-round picks. This trade would give back two of them, though Houston likely doesn’t give up the 2025 first until after the lottery.
Still, that’s three firsts, a culture-building veteran in VanVleet and a 20-year-old explosive scorer in Whitmore for a 36-year-old with a growing injury history who might want out. That’s good business.”
As Buckley noted, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka worked with Durant as an assistant coach on the Brooklyn Nets in 2020-21. They finished as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a 52-30 record, but were ousted in seven games in round one by KD’s old team, the Golden State Warriors.
Rockets Should Definitely Pursue A Kevin Durant Trade
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Houston needs another proven scorer and veteran to get over the hump in the unforgiving Western Conference. Trading for Kevin Durant, without having to give up a core young player like Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun or Amen Thompson, would put Houston in a great spot to win their first NBA title since 1995.
He may be 37 years old next season, but Durant showed no signs of slowing down in 2024-25 by averaging 26.6 points and 4.2 assists per game. Durant, of course, would probably see a nice increase in production in Houston since he wouldn’t have to share the ball with Devin Booker or Bradley Beal.
