The Houston Rockets have made a trade with the Brooklyn Nets, acquiring draft picks with the goal of trading for Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Rockets obtained the rights to the Suns’ 2027 first-round pick, which Wojnarowski noted would facilitate a potential trade for Durant.
“Suns have said they’re keeping Durant for now, but that could change next season,” Wojnarowski wrote. “But now, Houston has the picks to make the Suns whole again.”
The Nets received their 2026 first-round pick, previously owed to the Rockets, as part of the deal. The Rockets also gained the right to swap their 2025 first-round pick, currently held by either Houston or the Oklahoma City Thunder, for the Suns’ 2025 first-rounder.
Additionally, Houston secured the more favorable of the Suns’ and Mavericks’ first-round picks in 2029 and the right to swap their own first-round pick for the less favorable of the set.
With potential control over the Suns’ 2025, 2027, and 2029 picks, the Rockets have regained some of the draft capital that the Suns sent to Brooklyn in their trade for Durant in 2023.
However, Wojnarowski mentioned that the Rockets are not solely focused on using these picks for a Durant trade, as he has two seasons left on his deal with the Suns. “As intrigued as the Rockets have been about Durant, they’re determined to use the Suns picks to be aggressive on deals elsewhere now,” Wojnarowski wrote.
The Rockets could also use the picks to pursue a deal for Suns guard Devin Booker. Durant, entering his age-36 season, remains a trade target after averaging 27.1 points in 75 starts last season. The Suns will need to decide whether to trade him or continue with their core trio of Durant, Booker, and Bradley Beal.
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