The Houston Rockets want Kevin Durant or Devin Booker. To get one of them, Houston made an intriguing trade with the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night to acquire future draft picks that originally belonged to the Phoenix Suns. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski uncovered a complicated trade that gives the Nets back their own 2026 pick (originally sent to Houston in the James Harden trade) and expires the trade rights Houston had to Brooklyn’s 2025 pick in exchange for a package headlined by the Suns’ 2027 pick, originally acquired by the Nets in the Kevin Durant trade.
This trade comes shortly after the Nets traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in a package that included five first-round draft picks, all on the eve of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Does this all make sense? Probably not. Here’s how Woj explained it:
Another big deal: Brooklyn has reached a deal with Houston to trade the Nets’ 2026 first-round pick for a 2027 Phoenix Suns first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. The Rockets also acquire the right to trade Houston/OKC for the Suns’ 2025 first-round pick. More details on the picks to follow… pic.twitter.com/qkTh3KwV63
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 26 June 2024
More on the deal: Houston acquires Dallas and Phoenix’s cheaper 2029 first-round pick and acquires the right to trade Houston’s first-round pick for Dallas and Phoenix’s less-cheap first-round pick, according to sources. https://t.co/jUR0f5lSjM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 26 June 2024
The most important thing about the deal, according to sources: Houston gives up the right to trade a Houston/OKC first-round pick for Brooklyn’s 2025 first-round pick. The Nets control their own pick while they conduct a complete rebuild – especially important in the talented 2025 draft. https://t.co/jUR0f5lSjM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 26 June 2024
Let’s do our best to summarize this:
Receive networks: Brooklyn first-round pick 2026, expired trade rights for Brooklyn first-round pick 2025
Receive rockets: 2027 first-round pick of the Suns, 2025 first-round trade rights of the Suns, 2029 first-round pick from Dallas or Phoenix (cheaper), trade rights for 2029 first-round pick with Dallas or Phoenix (less cheap)
The Nets’ motivation for this deal is obvious: Brooklyn is betting everything on rebuilding and now has control of its own picks. The Nets will crash hard ahead of a loaded 2025 NBA Draft class, and then they’ll crash again in 2026. Brooklyn is loaded with draft picks.
What is the Rockets’ motivation for this deal? They want Durant or Booker, according to Woj, and believe they can get Phoenix to bite by trading back their own draft picks. The Suns are committed to keeping Durant and Booker for now and winning next season, according to Woj. The Rockets are betting they’ll give up that position at some point. Here are tweets from Woj:
What does it mean if the Rockets get the Suns’ picks? Houston wants to sign Kevin Durant and that will be a lot easier if they can trade the Suns’ picks they gave up in the Durant deal back to the Nets. The Suns have said they’re keeping Durant for now, but that could change…
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 26 June 2024
The Rockets have a 2025 pick swap with the Suns, a 2027 Suns pick, and could get the Suns’ 2029 pick depending on contingencies. Should the Suns ever be faced with the task of disbanding the team, Houston is also in a great position to sign a younger Devin Booker. Right now, Phoenix is trying… https://t.co/p29C3XSpe2
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 26 June 2024
As intrigued as the Rockets were by Durant, they are determined to use the Suns’ selection to be aggressive in deals elsewhere now, sources tell ESPN. Phoenix has made it clear they want to win with this group, and Houston is now looking for a big-money addition.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 26 June 2024
The Rockets also have the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Will Durant be traded during Wednesday night’s draft? That seems quite possible.
This seems like an incredibly bold, almost reckless trade by Houston. The Nets’ 2025 pick and unprotected ownership of their 2026 pick were incredibly valuable assets. Houston gave those up to fade the Suns. The Rockets will aggressively look to trade for an established veteran talent – be it Durant or Booker or someone else.
The NBA is in full swing and the Nets are in the thick of it. Brooklyn’s big trade for Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden ended in a disaster of epic proportions, but the team recovered so well by trading them all (and the returning players like Bridges) for future draft picks. The Nets will be flooded with draft capital in stronger classes over the next few years.
By the way, Durant will be 36 years old before next season. What a start to the 24 hours before the draft.
