Grading a wildly complicated trade proposal that has Rockets landing Durant

The Houston Rockets have an exciting summer ahead of them.

Will they make a blockbuster move? That's the million dollar question. Many Rockets fans will prefer to wait for the results of the playoffs before they start thinking about it. If the Rockets win a series or more, they may want to run their current core back. If the first round is a disappointment, they may acquire a superstar player who can be the lynchpin of their offense.

Take Kevin Durant. The Rockets may trade for Kevin Durant. They may not.

Simple enough, right?

That said, negotiations surrounding any potential deal are likely to be complicated. You don't need to tell Bleacher Report:

They just proposed the most complex Durant deal I've graded to date.

Wild proposal has Rockets landing Durant in multi-team deal

Let's break down the details

San Antonio Spurs receive: Devin Booker, Josh Okogie, Jae'Sean Tate, Jeff Green, Trade Exception

Houston Rockets receive: Kevin Durant

Phoenix Suns receive: Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Aaron Holiday, 2025 First Round Pick (PHX via HOU), 2025 First Round Pick (SAS), 2027 First Round Pick (Lottery Protected - MIA via CHA), 2029 First Round Pick (SAS), Trade Exception

Charlotte Hornets receive: Malaki Branham, Jock Landale, 2025 First Round Pick (ATL via SAS)

That's...a lot.

Breaking down this deal from every team's perspective would require a gratuitous number of words. Let's keep it brief. If the Spurs like Booker, they're giving up his market value. If the Suns are ready to rebuild, this is a good starter package. The Hornets do well to flip Okogie for the younger Branham, and this Hawks pick is likely a marginal upgrade over a lottery-protected 2027 pick from the Heat.

Does the deal work for the Rockets?

Rockets pay fair price for superstar

If you don't like this deal for the Rockets, you don't want Durant. That's a fair position. Durant is old.

If the front office wants to acquire him, this is as good as it's going to get.

Including Smith Jr. feels like an obvious move. There's no viable place for him in the rotation if Durant is joining the fold. With his contract negotiations heating up soon, the Rockets may be smart to move him before they're forced to pay him or lose him for nothing.

Otherwise, it's been a difficult 2024-25 season for Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore. The Rockets have struggle to find a place for them in the rotation. That's not a major indictment on either. They're both young -especially Sheppard. Still, it's fair to wonder what each person's place is in the team's future.

So, the Rockets are parting with a young player they're immediately replacing, two young players they don't use, and one unprotected first for Kevin Durant. The only possible protestation to that would be that you don't want Durant in the first place.

Time will tell whether the Rockets do.

Grade: A