Grading a fresh trade proposal that has the Rockets landing Kevin Durant

The Houston Rockets. Kevin Durant. Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Insert introductory paragraph here.

It's getting tiresome. It's also the only meaningful discussion to have about Rockets basketball right now. The team's playoff dreams are long dashed. They're linked to two superstar wings. What else are we supposed to do?

It's not hard to find trade proposals linking the Rockets to either superstar. Bleacher Report recently suggested a deal that has them landing Durant.

Let's dive in.

Rockets mortgage some future for aging star

You know how this goes. We'll look at the proposal, and then we'll analyze it.

This is not an unreasonable proposal. So, it reaches a baseline that some proposals do not.

This is fair value for Durant. Some would suggest that Green is a negative trade asset, and that moving off his contract is value in its own right. Even if you have a more favorable view of Green, you surely don't think he's as valuable as Durant on the open market.

Neither is Smith Jr., although he should have decidedly positive value. Still, pairing him with Green, the 10th pick and an unprotected future first for Durant is reasonable in terms of the open market.

It's still a move the Rockets shouldn't make.

Rockets don't need Durant this badly

Let's circle back to Smith Jr.

He only played 20.4 minutes per game for the Rockets in this year's postseason. He should have played more. Smith Jr. shot a remarkable 45.5% on 3.1 three-point attempts per game.

He's always felt like a player who was "built" for the playoffs. Smith Jr. is a 6'11" wing who can guard every frontcourt position. He can space the floor as a stretch big man, or give the Rockets a size advantage by playing the 3. Versatility was always his major selling point, and he showcased that quality against the Warriors.

Put differently, he's not someone you want to trade for a star. He's someone you want to pair with a star.

That's not to say Smith Jr. should be untouchable. If the Rockets are acquiring an MVP candidate (read: Antetokounmpo), they should acquiesce if a team (read: the Bucks) wants him. Those days are behind Durant. If the Rockets are acquiring him, the idea should be to plug him into whatever is already working for the Rockets.

Smith Jr. is part of that calculus. Replace him with Jock Landale, and this deal gets an A+. As constructed, it's not worth parting with a highly valuable long-term rotation piece for a 37-year-old.

Grade: B-