Kevin Durant's sign of respect could hint at perfect future Rockets acquisition

When the Houston Rockets acquired Kevin Durant, they knew they were altering the course of the franchise. That's what a player of Durant's caliber does.

His impact won't be exclusively felt on the court. Sure, Durant is a game-changing force. He'll revolutionize the Rockets' offense. That said, his preferences will also be a factor off the court.

The Rockets are likely done building the roster heading into the 2025-26 season. Don't expect any major moves - for now. If the Rockets need a boost leading up to the trade deadline, they could look to acquire new players.

With Durant's preferences in mind, they may already know who to target.

Rockets could pair Durant with dream teammate

Simone Fontecchio isn't a blockbuster acquisition. He's not a household name. This is a player whom only diehard NBA fans will recognize the value of.

It seems Durant badly wanted him on the Suns last year anyway.

"During a break in the game, Durant came up to me and told me, ‘We tried everything we could to get you here, but we couldn't do it'"

-Simone Fontecchio

That shouldn't come as a surprise. Fontecchio is a career 36.3% three-point shooter who has eclipsed 40% twice. At 6'8", he's got some defensive versatility. He's also a heady player who functions perfectly within his role.

That's partly why he'll be difficult to acquire.

Fontecchio may not be an option for Rockets

Firstly, the Pistons surely value Fontecchio. He won't be easy to pry from an Eastern Conference team that's looking to make noise in their conference. The Pistons already lost Malik Beasley this summer - they'll likely need Fontecchio's floor spacing.

Moreover, Fontecchio makes roughly $8 million a year. Matching his salary isn't simple for the Rockets. As a first-apron team, they won't be able to aggregate minimum salaries to make the money work. Is there any way this can even work?

Perhaps. The Rockets could cut ties with Clint Capela (and some draft capital) early if they feel they need an extra shooter more than they need a third big. Otherwise, it's hard to work out a logical deal. Still, this is the NBA. Where there's a will, there is often a way.

This could be much ado about nothing. There's nothing formal linking the Rockets to Fontecchio and the Pistons surely like the veteran wing. If the Rockets are rolling heading into the deadline, they'll likely stand pat. Still, nobody should be ruling Fontecchio out as a Rockets acquisition:

If Durant has anything to say about it, it might happen.