of Houston Rockets They want Kevin Durant or Devin Booker, and Houston made an interesting trade to acquire either of them. Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night to acquire a future draft pick from his original team. Phoenix SunsESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the complicated trade in which the Nets would receive their 2026 draft pick (originally given to Houston in the James Harden trade) and eliminate the swap rights Houston had for Brooklyn’s 2025 draft pick in exchange for a package centered around the Suns’ 2027 draft pick, which the Nets originally acquired in the Kevin Durant trade.
The trade came on the heels of the Nets trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for a package that included five first-round draft picks, all on the eve of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Does all this make sense? Probably not. Woj explained:
Another big deal: Brooklyn inked a deal with Houston to swap the Nets’ 2026 first-round draft pick for a Phoenix Suns first-round draft pick in 2027, sources told ESPN. The Rockets also acquired the 2025 right to swap Houston/OKC’s first-round draft pick for the Suns’ first-round draft pick in 2025. More details on the picks will be announced at a later date… pic.twitter.com/qkTh3KwV63
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
The deal details: Houston will acquire the better of Dallas and Phoenix’s 2029 first-round picks and the right to swap Houston’s first-round pick for the lesser Dallas first-round pick and Phoenix’s first-round pick, per sources. https://t.co/jUR0f5lSjM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
The most important aspect of the deal, per sources, is that Houston will give up the right to trade Houston/Oklahoma City’s first-round draft pick for Brooklyn’s first-round pick in 2025. The Nets will control their own pick as they enter a complete rebuild, which is especially important with a talent-rich 2025 draft class. https://t.co/jUR0f5lSjM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
Let me do my best to summarize this:
The Nets received: Brooklyn: 2026 first-round draft pick and lapsed exchange rights for a 2025 first-round draft pick
Rocket gets: 2027 Suns first-round pick, 2025 Suns first-round pick swap, 2029 first-round pick from Dallas or Phoenix (better), 2029 first-round pick swap with Dallas or Phoenix (worse)
The Nets’ motivation for making this trade is clear. Brooklyn is committed to rebuilding and now owns their pick. The Nets blew it in a deep NBA draft field in 2025 and will blew it again in 2026. Brooklyn is deep in draft picks.
What is the Rockets’ motivation for making this trade? According to Woj, they want Durant or Booker and think they can make a dent in Phoenix by giving back their own draft picks. Woj said the Suns are determined to keep Durant and Booker for now and try to win next season. The Rockets plan to get out of that position eventually. Here’s Woj’s tweet:
What does it mean for the Rockets to acquire the Suns pick? Houston wants to trade for Kevin Durant, and getting the Suns pick back to the Nets, which they gave up in the Durant trade, would make that much easier. The Suns have said they’re keeping Durant for now, but that could change…
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
The Rockets own the right to swap picks with the Suns in 2025, the Suns’ pick in 2027, and potentially the Suns’ pick in 2029. If the Suns face disintegration, Houston is in a great position to acquire young Devin Booker. For now, Phoenix is… https://t.co/p29C3XSpe2
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
The Rockets were interested in Durant but are determined to use the Suns’ pick to sign him elsewhere, per ESPN sources. Phoenix has made it clear it wants to bolster its ranks again, and Houston is now looking for a major addition.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
The Rockets also hold the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Could Durant be traded during Wednesday night’s draft? That seems quite likely.
This just seems like a very bold and reckless trade by Houston. The Nets’ 2025 pick swap rights and unprotected ownership of the 2026 pick were very valuable assets. Houston gave them up to weaken the Suns. The Rockets would be willing to trade for established veteran talent, whether it’s Durant, Booker or someone else.
The NBA is on a roll, and the Nets are at the center of it all. Brooklyn’s big push to acquire Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden was a disaster, but the team bounced back nicely by trading them all (and returning players like Bridges) for future draft picks. The Nets will have a lot more cash on their hands with stronger draft classes for the next few years.
For comparison, Durant will turn 36 before next season, making this a great way to start the 24 hours before the draft.
