The Rockets are watching Suns devalue Kevin Durant, one offer at a time

Kevin Durant’s trade value isn’t what it used to be and the league knows it.

The Phoenix Suns face a complicated riddle this offseason, one without a clean solution. I’ve laid out in writing what I believe the team should do, and explored alternate paths through podcasts. The more I dive in, the clearer it becomes: being fiscally responsible, staying under the second apron, preserving long-term roster and asset flexibility, and remaining competitive next season…those goals are not compatible. At least not all at once.

If there’s a priority to be made, it should lean toward sustainability by getting below that second apron and regaining some semblance of asset control. As much as fans may crave instant contention, next season may need to be viewed as a necessary step back to take a leap forward. That’s where my thought exercises have led me, time and again.

And if you’re serious about achieving that reset? Trading Kevin Durant becomes one of the few viable paths. One team that stands out as an ideal trade partner: the Houston Rockets. They’re a franchise on the rise, with cap flexibility and a glaring need for a closer. Someone who can get them over the hump. After falling in seven to Golden State in the first round, a player like Durant might be exactly what they believe they’re missing.

But they’re not ready to abandon the tracks they’ve spent years laying.

Per The Athletic’s Kelly Iko, the Suns and Rockets have been talking. What they’ve been saying? Well…

This is not to say the Rockets and Suns are not in communication. On the contrary, 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.

This feels eerily familiar to the last trade deadline, when the Suns kept ringing up the Miami Heat in hopes of prying away Jimmy Butler, reportedly doing everything short of begging to unload Bradley Beal’s contract in the process.

Now it’s Houston on the other end of the line. Phoenix is calling, again and again, each time with a slightly weaker offer for Kevin Durant. And it’s likely reached the point where Rockets executives see the Suns on caller ID, exchange eye rolls, hold up the phone, and mutter with smirks, “It’s those guys again.”

Because around the league, Durant’s value just isn’t what it used to be. He’s 36. Outside of Golden State, he’s never won a title. And in his wake, he tends to leave franchises scrambling to pick up the pieces. Yes, he’s a generational scorer. One of the greatest to ever do it. But as Bill Simmons recently pointed out, “he hasn’t been happy in a situation since the 2017 Warriors”.

And teams are wary of trading assets for a player who might deliver buckets, but not belief.

With the new collective bargaining agreement in full effect, one that prioritizes flexibility over star-laden payrolls, Kevin Durant’s trade value just isn’t what many assume it to be. Not if acquiring him means signing up for an extension and all the financial strain that comes with it. At least in my view, his name still carries more weight than his contract does in this CBA reality.

So when you fire up the trade machine and take the wheel, keep that in mind. Every mock deal I see shipping Durant out comes loaded with draft picks and solid rotational talent. But this isn’t 2022. The market has shifted. Front offices have evolved. Teams are no longer tacking on first-rounders to get a deal across the finish line just because it’s Kevin Durant. They’ve studied the Suns’ recent missteps and learned from them.

There will be a market for Durant this summer. In an ideal world, multiple teams line up, sparking a bidding war that elevates Phoenix’s return. But let’s be honest, the package isn’t going to match the fantasy. If you’re expecting multiple firsts and quality mid-tier players, brace yourself.

Just ask Houston.

The Suns keep calling, sweetening the pot by removing ingredients. And the Rockets? They’re laughing as they hit decline.

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