Report: Suns ramping up trade calls with Rockets about Kevin Durant, draft equity
The Phoenix Suns are coming off a 36-46 season, and yet the Houston Rockets control their first-round draft inventory in 2025, 2027, and 2029.
To say the least, the future outlook for the Suns would be improved if they could somehow regain control of their draft equity. And that's presumably leading to some exploratory trade calls being made.
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Per Kelly Iko of The Athletic:
Phoenix is aggressive in pursuit of a) trading Kevin Durant and b) regaining full control of their draft capital starting with the No. 10 pick in next month's draft, team sources said. Since the conclusion of the season, Houston has fielded several calls from Phoenix, who have since gradually lowered their asking price for Durant, those sources said. There is a price where the Rockets would be interested, but with a fear of breaking up their roster for a 36-year-old coming off injury, doubt remains over a deal materializing.
The challenge with the Durant component is the salary figure. The All-Star forward will make $54.7 million next season, and Houston would need to send out close to that amount from its own payroll for matching purposes.
And if Houston is eating into its player core to that extent for a 36-year-old — even one as elite as Durant, a former NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and future Hall of Famer — it's hard to see the Rockets also giving up significant chunks of that Suns draft capital. In turn, that could diminish the appeal for Phoenix.
Yet, Iko reports that there is an asset price at which the Rockets would be interested, and presumably they've run the salary matching numbers. Time will tell as to whether Phoenix is willing to go there.
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More: SI's Chris Mannix sees Rockets as most invested Giannis Antetokounmpo trade suitor
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Suns ramping up trade calls with Houston for Kevin Durant, draft picks
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