Fresh Kevin Durant trade proposal could be nightmare for Rockets

The Houston Rockets are banking on the Suns' failures.

They're directly tied to one another. The Rockets already landed the 10th overall pick from Phoenix. They also own their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks. The worse the Suns' fortunes are, the better it is for Houston.

So, the Kevin Durant trade rumors are music to the ears of Rockets fans. It isn't easy to imagine a deal the Suns could make involving Durant that makes them better. That said, a deal that helps them stay competitive could hurt the Rockets.

One NBA insider is proposing exactly such a deal.

Rockets don't want proposed deal to come to fruition

The Ringer's Bill Simmons is suggesting a straight Durant for Karl-Anthony Towns deal.

"Let me throw this one at you, Towns for Durant. I think Durant has a year left, but you can extend him. The salaries actually work as a one-for-one. Towns, if you remember, has a whole friendship history with Booker."

-Bill Simmons, The Ringer

Simmons makes a good point. The Knicks have already mortgaged their future on this iteration of the team. They'd likely be better with Durant than Towns, especially considering that Mitchell Robinson is available to man the 5. That's not a knock on Towns - it's just that Durant is among the most feared shot makers in history and Robinson is a better defender. The Knicks would have a more balanced roster by flipping Towns for Durant.

The Suns have mortgaged their future, too. It's evident that they made a mistake by now, but what's done is done. This team has no incentive to rebuild without control of its own draft. If the Rockets play hardball with their picks, the Suns will likely look to tread water.

That would be a nightmare for the Rockets.

Suns could hand Rockets mediocre picks

Does a Booker/Towns duo win NBA titles? No. With proper roster construction, can the duo win 40-to-45 games for multiple consecutive seasons?

You bet.

That's exactly what the Rockets don't want. These Suns picks hold special value because the organization feels like it's on the brink of collapse. The Knicks can offer Phoenix a lifeline, and they'll be incentivized to do it.

Ultimately, this is life in the NBA. It's wildly unpredictable. There's a world where unexpected circumstances force the Suns to punt on 2029, no matter who's on the roster.

When the Rockets acquired these picks, they surely knew they weren't guaranteed to land in the top 10 on a perennial basis. Still, it's worth noting that this would not be an ideal scenario for them. Ideally, the Knicks aren't interested in an aging Durant:

Here's hoping that leaves the Suns without options.