Houston Rockets Finessed The Phoenix Suns!

This past Sunday was legendary, as the Pacers and Oklahoma City were looking to win Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Right before the night began, Shams revealed that Kevin Durant was joining Houston. The Rockets faced a tough end to their season. They lost in the first round to Golden State, which made it clear that they needed a guy who could take over. Jalen Green struggled in his debut, averaging 13 points per game and shooting 37 percent. Sengun also hesitated to score against Draymond Green. Rafael Stone and Tilman Fertitta agreed it’s time to make a trade. Teams like the Spurs are getting better with a healthy roster next season. The Lakers will have a full off-season with Luka Dončić. The Warriors will also have the same with Jimmy Butler. It only made sense for the Rockets to make a trade that would make a huge splash around the league.

What a trade Rafael Stone and Tilman Fertitta were able to pull off, as they didn't give up anything for this trade. They kept most of their young players, as they only let go of Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and the 10th draft pick. During this free agency, Desmond Bane was traded for many picks. So, it's great that the Rockets can keep their assets and depth. With the West so stacked, the Rockets need a scorer who can take over when needed. Kevin is still that guy who can get you straight buckets. With Ime Udoka's coaching philosophy of defense, he can hide KD on that end to save energy. The future Hall of Famer is a more reliable choice than Jalen Green, as he is a consistent scorer. This postseason was the writing on the wall for the 23-year-old, as he could not be a star of the future. Dillon Brooks, the veteran, will be missed for the energy that he brought to the team. And the 10th pick in the draft would not have gotten much playing time, so it made sense to flip it for a better player. This off-season will be full of trades. And it's amazing that the Rockets will make a trade that helps them.

What a loss this trade was for the Phoenix Suns, as they got nothing from the Kevin Durant trade. Reports came that KD had the pull to decide where he wants to go, which is ridiculous. How the hell can Kevin decide where to go after underachieving as a Sun? Matt Ishbia acted poorly by allowing Kevin Durant to control his trade value, which he kept low. The Minnesota Timberwolves could have assembled a stronger group of players. Instead, they ended up with just the 10th pick in the draft. As the Suns had no assets, it made sense to take a stronger package, and the organization failed to do so. Now, it is clearer than ever that they are stuck, and they are insistent on keeping Devin Booker.

This off-season the free agency market is weak, and there will be a ton of trades happening. Some could change the landscape in the NBA and turn anyone into a contender. Many players not on the market could be sold if the price is right. However, the Suns don’t seem ready to sell. It seems Devin Booker, a prime player, will stay on the Suns instead of looking for better options. Reports have come out that the 28-year-old looks to get extended and retire a Sun. But with no assets and bad contracts like Bradley Beal, it is hard to imagine the Suns competing. The 10th pick doesn't add any optimism that makes them a top team in the West. Jalen Green isn't great at anything but is decent at scoring and could be an ok playmaker. Matt Ishbia and James Jones are fine with remaining mediocre, which is a huge loss for the Suns.

Jalen Green is 23 years old; though he isn't a future star, he could still be a future Sixth Man of the Year. Green could be the spark plug off the bench needed for a good team. But for the Suns, I do not see the fit, as there is only one ball. I don't see how Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Jalen Green would be able to have a flowing offense together. The Western Conference is tough. I can't see this team making the play-in tournament, much less the finals. With no trade assets, this team struggles to make moves. The 10th pick could help, but it won’t be enough. And Dillon Brooks is a good role player, but he is not a player who can take over. The future for the Suns looks bleak due to the incompetent regime of James Jones and Matt Ishbia.

Kevin Durant seems happy to play for the Rockets, even willing to take a pay cut. He has many reasons for wanting to come to Houston. One is the young players who led the team to the second seed. Another could be Ime Udoka's ability to coach and turn organizations around. One of the most interesting hires for the Rockets was his college teammate and former NBA player DJ Augustin, who was hired to be a part of the Rockets front office. It would not be shocking to find out that he played a hand in getting KD in a Houston uniform. That Longhorn connection is strong, especially in the state of Texas. It's safe to assume that Steven Adams was a voice for the future Hall of Famer, as he was one of his favorite teammates. The Rockets and Durant could soon reach a 2-year, $120 million deal, which would make him committed to the city of Houston. The NBA is changing fast, and this trade could change the West.

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