NBA insider gives accurate assessment of Rockets' Durant saga

The Houston Rockets. Kevin Durant. Etc.

It's getting difficult to write introductions about this situation. It's also impossible to avoid writing about it. Until the inevitable "Shams bomb" hits, the speculation will continue. The whole world is waiting to find out whether the Rockets will acquire Kevin Durant.

It's a logical quagmire. The Rockets need a legitimate shot creator to take the team to the next level. They are also a young team that should be wary of acquiring a soon-to-be 37-year-old. The Rockets should only acquire Durant at the right cost.

One NBA insider seems to understand that situation perfectly.

NBA insider sets firm price for Rockets

Brian Windhorst of The Hoops Collective was discussing the scuttlebutt recently. He had wise words for the Rockets.

"If your Houston, whose shown some interest, but hasn't sent an offer to compel Phoenix, I'm not increasing my offer at all."

- Brian Windhorst of The Hoops Collective

The Durant situation is complex. The Rockets have competing motives. That said, perhaps it can be simplified. The Rockets should want Durant:

But only at a firmly fixed cost.

Rockets can't overpay for aging star

As a rule, young teams should not trade for old stars. It's a blueprint for failure. Pushing valuable chips in before the right time is a safe way to lose a bet.

There are exceptions to every rule. If you have chips that your opponent wants more than you do, you've got an opportunity to get surplus value from those chips. That's the situation between the Rockets and the Suns.

If the Suns want their own picks back, they'll have to settle on what's otherwise a below-market return for Durant. That's why the Rockets can justify acquiring Durant - they're getting a hefty discount.

If the deal is right, the Rockets can walk away with five of their "core seven" intact. They should have most of the draft capital that's already in the warchest. Houston should be offering Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, the 10th overall pick, salary filler, and the Suns' 2027 pick back (ideally protected).

Green is a borderline negative asset. The Rockets don't seem too high on Whitmore. If that's all they have to part with, they're retaining most of what makes their future so attractive while also improving their short-term title odds.

That's a good plan. Giving up quality young players for an aging superstar is a bad move. The Rockets should want Durant, but they shouldn't want him badly enough to overpay:

Insert your own conclusion here.