Bill Simmons’ wild trade idea gives Rockets obvious Durant escape route

The Houston Rockets suffered a disappointing early playoff exit at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers. Any earlier-than-expected exit will leave a team facing uncomfortable offseason questions. In Houston’s case, prominent podcaster Bill Simmons is already asking whether Kevin Durant should be leading this young core.

In a recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons suggested that a Durant-for-Brandon Ingram swap could mutually benefit Toronto and Houston. The rationale for Houston centered around the idea that Ingram’s age and quieter locker room presence would make him a better fit with the Rockets’ young core.

In a vacuum, a player as talented as Durant should bring back a massive return. However, at 37, teams would not be trading for a long-term option. That limits how many teams can realistically justify paying a massive price for him.

With that in mind, getting back a 28-year-old All-Star-level forward would be a solid return. Ingram is not Durant, but he is a proven scorer who can create his own shot, handle a significant offensive role, and fits next to Houston’s younger pieces.

Ingram is a better fit for Houston’s young core

Durant is still the better player. Even at 37 years old, he remains one of the best scorers in basketball and one of the most efficient offensive players in the league. If Houston’s only goal is to maximize its ceiling next season, Durant is still more valuable than Ingram.

The problem is that Houston should not build like a normal win-now team. The Rockets have one of the best young cores in the NBA. Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Reed Sheppard are all under the age of 25.

Ingram is only 28. He may not have Durant’s ceiling, but he fits Houston’s young timeline much more cleanly. Choosing to build around Durant could force Houston to prioritize short-term urgency over the long-term upside of that young group. 

Durant has a history of noisy locker rooms

Houston dealt with a noisy locker room in the second half of the season, and much of that discomfort centered on Durant. It is not the first time one of Durant’s teams has dealt with noise, either. His stops with the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns both came with plenty of drama.

Ingram is a very different locker room presence. He is more mild-mannered, quieter, and less likely to dominate the daily conversation around the team. Team chemistry is especially important for a young, developing roster. It is unclear how much Durant impacted Houston’s chemistry, but Ingram would certainly not create the same level of noise.

Ultimately, Houston does not need to trade Durant. If they do decide to trade him, then they could try to hold out for a more lucrative offer. However, there is a clear rationale behind the idea of a Durant-for-Ingram swap, and it does address a lot of the concerns regarding a Kevin Durant-led Houston Rockets team.

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