Recent Kevin Durant rumors could hold myriad of meanings for Rockets

The Houston Rockets are tied to several other teams around the league. With Rafael Stone's emphasis on accumulating draft capital, that's unavoidable. The Rockets are tethered to some of their rivals.

They aren't tied to any team as closely as they are to the Phoenix Suns. The Rockets own several of their picks moving forward. Whatever happens in Phoenix impacts the Rockets.

So, recent suggestions that they could look to move Kevin Durant should perk Stone's ears.

Rockets invested in Durant's fate

That's not to say this is unequivocally good for the Rockets.

As it stands, the Suns are stuck. Trading Durant, paradoxical as it may seem, could be their first step on the road back to relevancy.

Granted, they're unlikely to land anyone as good as Durant. Still, the Suns reached the 2021 NBA Finals with a model that basically surrounded Devin Booker with depth. Could they try to flip Durant for pieces to go back to that model?

Alternatively, they could look to flip Durant for the best value they can find and sort the rest out later. Suppose the Suns sent him to the Warriors for a package built around Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, and draft capital. They'd be grabbing a solid 3-and-D wing in Wiggins and could look to flip Kuminga with the draft capital for a younger star than Durant as soon as possible. Suddenly, the Suns would be set up for more sustainable success.

It's hard to say how this thing will go. Either way, it impacts the Rockets:

But what if it impacts them directly?

Rockets could nab Durant

It's the elephant in the room. Time to address it.

The Rockets have unequivocally stated that they aren't looking to break up their young core. They could make an exception for Durant for several reasons.

To begin with, they own those Suns' picks. That draft capital will have more value to the Suns than any other team. Er go, the Rockets could get Durant at a price that's otherwise lower than it ought to be.

Moreover, Durant is an undeniably excellent fit with this group. In 2024-25, he's playing some of the best defense of his career. He also provides the type of nuclear three-point gravity the Rockets are lacking. If opponents had to account for Durant in addition to the key players the Rockets have, they'd be difficult to stop. This could open a real title window for the Rockets in the next few seasons.

The price has to be right. Houston shouldn't part with any of the young guys who are prominent in the rotation - even Smith Jr. Keeping him as Durant's understudy would allow the Rockets to run some lethal five-out lineups with Smith Jr. at the 5.

How about Cam Whitmore, Reed Sheppard, and the Suns' picks back? That could be an opportunity that Stone doesn't feel he can pass up.

On the other hand...

The Rockets are in an optimal position

Here's a basic premise: anything that's bad for the Suns is good for the Rockets. They wouldn't be shopping one of the best scorers in NBA history if things were going well. At 25-24, the Suns seem to be on the precipice of collapsing.

The Rockets could take Durant off their hands. That said, it may be wiser to let the Suns dig their own grave. It's hard to imagine how they'd replace Kevin Durant. The Suns could opt for long-term mediocrity instead of bottoming out, but even then, Stone has secured Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason, and Cam Whitmore with picks in the middle of the draft.

The broader point is that these rumors are more helpful than not for the Rockets. The Suns could save themselves by moving Durant, but it feels more likely that these are the seeds of their own destruction:

All the Rockets have to do is rise from the rubble.