Sam Amick: Rockets, Suns haven't talked Kevin Durant trade in a week
The Athletic's Sam Amick on the current state of Kevin Durant trade talks: 'I was told yesterday that Houston hadn't talked to Phoenix since last week, and that call didn't go particularly well.'
The Rockets have a 'firm offer' to trade for Suns star Kevin Durant, but Phoenix continues to be underwhelmed with Houston's valuation of the All-Star forward, per Kelly Iko of The Athletic. There has yet to be a clear indication of what that offer specifically entails, though Rockets Wire explored the financial possibilities last week.
That was reported a few days ago, and as of late in the week, it seemingly remains the case.
In a conversation taped midday Friday, The Athletic's Sam Amick said this (on The Athletic NBA Daily) regarding the state of talks between the Rockets and Suns:
I was told yesterday (Thursday) that Houston hadn't talked to Phoenix since last week, and that call didn't go particularly well. That could have changed by now, again that's as of yesterday. They would love to have KD, but it's on their price.
In short, it's a standoff. The Suns are canvassing the league in hopes of either finding a better trade offer for Durant or bluffing a suitor such as Houston into raising its bid (by making them wait and leaving the team in a period of uncertainty).
Conversely, the Rockets are betting that Phoenix will be unsuccessful in that effort, particularly with Durant having some leverage in the form of a trade list of desired destinations (with only Houston, Miami, and San Antonio on it). The Suns would love for Durant to eventually give them more options by expanding that list beyond three teams, and this delay is their attempt at leveraging him to do so.
Because the All-Star forward's current contract expires after next season, his choice to sign (or not sign) an extension carries significant weight in any trade talks, since most teams won't risk surrendering significant asset capital if they might lose him as an unrestricted free agent a year later.
For over a week, it's been reported that a Durant deal is possible at any time, with the upcoming NBA draft a key date in the talks. Should Phoenix acquire a draft asset in a trade, finalizing a deal prior to the June 25 first round would allow the Suns to make such a selection for themselves, as opposed to having a player chosen for them by another team.
So, as that June 25 date looms on Wednesday, everyone waits. Can the Suns find a better offer, and will Durant expand his list to help arrange that? If not, will Phoenix lower its asking price and perhaps consider a preexisting bid from a team such as Houston? If they are unwilling to, is there any scenario where the Suns would pull Durant from the market and attempt to bring him back into the fold for the 2025-26 season?
The next move seemingly belongs to the Suns, owner Mat Ishbia, and new general manager Brian Gregory, and the career-closing fate of a future Hall of Famer likely hangs in the balance. Durant turns 37 years old in September, which means that his next NBA team could perhaps be his last.
Rafael Stone, general manager of the Rockets, would love for that team to be his — but on terms that work for both short- and long-term interests. Having Durant would certainly help the short-term outlook, but that may not be worth it to young team like the Rockets, if they're asked to effectively mortgage their future to do so. Houston's hope is that eventually Phoenix drops its asking price.
More: Jake Fischer: Rockets might be Kevin Durant's top trade preference
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