Key detail from Rockets' Kevin Durant trade revealed as Suns make perfect pick

The Houston Rockets may have just sent the Suns the most valuable player they'll get from the Kevin Durant trade.

Jalen Green believers will take offense. Sorry, folks - you're poorly represented on SpaceCityScoop. I wish Green the best, but I'm glad another organization will be probing his potential.

It's not meant to be a slight against Dillon Brooks either. He's great, and his time in Houston is appreciated. Brooks is also a finished product. He's likely as good as he'll ever be.

Who knows? The Suns may find a diamond in the rough with one of their second-rounders. We've seen teams strike gold deep into the draft in the past. Still, the most probable outcome suggests that they just got the best piece they'll get from this trade:

Now that the pick is official, that is.

Suns select promising young prospect with former Rockets pick

The Suns have selected Duke’s Khaman Maluach.

Arguably, this is the best pick the Suns could have made. They needed a big, and Maluach was perhaps the best left on the board. There’s a lot to like about this young man. 

That starts with his absurd 9’6” standing reach. Maluach also has remarkably quick feet for a man his size. He’s a near lock to be an elite NBA defender. 

Offensively, Maluach is raw. He’s flashed some ability to shoot, but he’s not consistent yet. If nothing else, Maluach will be able to finish pick-and-rolls efficiently. 

Still, defense is his calling card. Maluach should be able to anchor the Suns’ defense soon, even if the offence takes some time to come around. 

Rockets fans should be hoping it takes as long as possible. 

Suns’ success is Rockets’ failure 

At the risk of being greedy, the Rockets still own the Suns’ 2027 and 2029 first-round picks. They don’t want (player) to develop too quickly. 

That said, if they’re not a star contributor by 2029, they likely never will be. So, that leaves a two year window where the Rockets should hope (player) is still in development even if he is destined for stardom. 

That’s not the only question mark surrounding the Suns. Can Green develop into a winning player for them? Is Devin Booker suited for full-time point guard duties? How will the Suns balance a roster that’s heavy on guards and exceedingly light on size outside of Maluach? 

These questions remain unanswered. Still, the Suns just got a step closer to gaining some clarity about their future. 

Time will tell whether it justifies trading Kevin Durant or not.