Kevin Durant rumors won't stop for Rockets unless one thing happens in the playoffs

The Houston Rockets are readying themselves for the NBA playoffs.

That's the focus in their locker room. Rest assured, the Rockets aren't thinking about offseason acquisitions. Ime Udoka is thinking about next week. He's not thinking about the 2025-26 season.

Everyone's mind isn't in the same place. Those on the periphery of the organization may have different priorities. Chatter about blockbuster deals is not ceasing. If anything, it's getting louder.

The Rockets are being linked to Kevin Durant.

Again.

Rockets linked to star wing by prominent insider

That said, plenty of observers have linked the Rockets to Durant. Those observers aren't ESPN's Shams Charania.

He's linking the Rockets to Durant. He also happens to be the most prominent insider in the NBA. Per Charania, there is a "level of mutual interest" between Durant and the Rockets. That's not a strong statement - it's vague and noncommittal. It's still worth noting.

This is not mere smoke - there's fire here. Whether the Rockets fan the flames or douse them with water may depend on what happens in the playoffs.

The Rockets may not need Durant

If the Rockets make a deep playoff run, they'll likely commit to this young group. They've made tremendous progress between last season and this one. Why halt their inertia?

By contrast, if the Rockets fall short in the first round, it's overwhelmingly likely that their lack of shot creation will be the issue. Durant would distinctly solve that issue. The outcome of this year's playoffs is likely to play a role in the Rockets' decision when it comes to Durant.

It's also worth noting that it takes two to tango. The Rockets are partly linked to Durant because they own the Suns' 2025, 2027, and 2029 picks. By all accounts, the Suns and Devin Booker intend on staying together. Phoenix may not be interested in getting their picks back if they don't intend on maximizing their value by tanking anyway.

That said, the picks could help them facilitate a soft rebuild. The Suns could intend to let one of those picks convey in the top 5 only to move it for Booker's co-star. Still, it's equally possible that they'd prefer to move Durant for players who can help them win in 2025-26.

The Suns are in a precarious position. Some would argue that the Rockets should treat them as a cautionary tale. They got here by flipping young players for win-now veterans. Perhaps the Rockets would be wise to stick with their group no matter what happens in this year's playoffs.

Either way, that's all they need to focus on for the time being.