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Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant spark Rockets trade speculation in familiar way

KD and Kyrie did this before.
ByTyler Watts
Houston Rockets, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant
Houston Rockets, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant | USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Rockets are in Macao preparing for a preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were caught chatting at midcourt. Fans couldn’t help but speculate after the duo famously decided to team up in 2019, and an All-Star Game chat caught on video was the tip-off. KD left the Warriors, and Kyrie departed from the Celtics to join the Brooklyn Nets in free agency. Both players are under contract this time, but Irving could be on his way out of Dallas.

The Mavericks are building around a 19-year-old Cooper Flagg. Kyrie doesn’t exactly fit the timeline. There has been plenty of speculation about Irving’s future. He is coming off a torn ACL, so Dallas wisely wants him to play and prove he’s still a star to increase his trade value. Kyrie is still the perfect number two and helped the Mavs reach the NBA Finals in 2024. Teams will be interested.

The Rockets are feeling significant pressure after being knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Lakers without Luka Doncic. Ime Udoka has plenty of it. Houston wants to win, and KD had fans wondering if he was planning a reunion with Kyrie in Space City.

Kevin Durant’s chat with Kyrie Irving got the internet talking

The two longtime friends didn’t try to hide their conversation in China. The NBA’s official account posted this on Oct. 8.

It certainly got fans talking in the comments given the duo’s history.

The Rockets were no strangers to trade speculation this offseason. They added Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic to their core and will get Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams back from injuries. Houston will be better, but they still don’t have enough offense in the biggest moments.

Kyrie could change that in an instant.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving could finally fulfill their Brooklyn dreams

Things didn’t go to plan in Brooklyn. KD missed the entire 2019-20 season recovering from a torn Achilles. The following year was the infamous toe-on-the-line game for Durant, where the Nets lost to the eventual champion Bucks in seven games. That second-round playoff exit was the furthest Brooklyn got before dismantling the trio that later involved James Harden.

The Rockets are a ready-made playoff team filled with young talent. KD has no plans of taking a step back. He is eager to compete for a championship, and Houston’s first-round exit to a shorthanded Lakers squad has to create some worry.

Kyrie has won a championship and played in three NBA Finals. He shared his love for Dallas recently, but Irving wants to win. The Mavs are expected to miss the playoffs. If they are struggling at the deadline, Kyrie’s name will be in the rumors.

KD may be laying the groundwork in China. Fans are already speculating about it. The superstar duo would be able to compete for a championship again on a team loaded with young talent that is eager to take the next step. This could be a legacy-defining triumph for both all-time greats. The dream story in some ways. Fans can only imagine Durant brought that up during the chat.

The Houston Rockets are eager to compete for the championship this season. That is why fans immediately started speculating when they saw Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving chatting in Macao ahead of their preseason clash.

The Mavs may look to trade Kyrie. The Rockets need a scorer and shot creation. This could be the perfect match and let the two longtime friends right their failed stint with the Brooklyn Nets. The story writes itself if Houston trades for Irving and goes on to win a title. It would be the perfect ending for everyone involved, except the rival Mavericks. That should only make Rockets fans want it more.

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