Shocking Kevin Durant revelation may change Rockets trade approach

Maybe the Houston Rockets shouldn't completely shut the door on a potential trade for Kevin Durant.
Houston Rockets v Charlotte Hornets
Houston Rockets v Charlotte Hornets | Jacob Kupferman/GettyImages

All of a sudden, a Kevin Durant trade may not be something the Houston Rockets can completely cross off their list of offseason possibilities. According to a recent report, the asking price for KD has "dropped gradually." If that is indeed the case, perhaps there's a path toward the Rockets acquiring KD without gutting their young core. If that is possible, trading for the aging superstar has to be back on the table for Houston.

Even after the huge step forward the Rockets took this past season, there has to be some careful consideration when it comes to making a big move. In theory, trading for the right star player should be a high priority for the Rockets heading into the offseason. For many reasons, KD may not be considered the right candidate.

Because of his age, what it would likely cost, and the fact that his presence on the roster could stunt the growth of a few of Houston's other young players, there's naturally a huge risk for the team if they were to pursue such a trade. However, if the asking price is low enough, Houston could view it as a very worthy gamble now.

Should the Rockets be willing to seriously revisit a trade for KD?

I suppose the big question that the Rockets would have to ask themselves is whether a trade for KD will dramatically raise their ceiling heading into next season. At least for now, it's difficult to answer that question. But assuming that KD is going to be close to the player he was this past season, there's no question that his presence on the roster could certainly give this team a much-needed boost on the offensive end of the floor.

One of the biggest reasons why the Rockets were expelled from the postseason in the first round at the hands of the Golden State Warriors was that they didn't have enough firepower in key moments of the game. Adding KD to the roster would certainly help on that front. For a young team that struggles with inconsistency, KD, in a vacuum, would make a lot of sense.

Still, there could be better long-term fits for the Rockets. But if, for one reason or another, none of those better fits are feasible targets for the Rockets this offseason, they may have no other option but to seriously revisit the KD trade talks.

And if the asking price has genuinely dropped and there's a path toward the Rockets adding KD without moving a key piece of their young foundational core, maybe there is a scenario in which this deal all comes together.