There is a 99.9% chance that Kevin Durant has already played in his final game for the Phoenix Suns. He missed the end of the season with an ankle injury as the team's Play-In Tournament hopes went down the drain.
Durant has one final season remaining on his current contract and will be 37 years old by the start of next season. It became blatantly evident that he won't win his next title in Phoenix. The Suns have put themselves in an undesirable position due to their lack of assets and financial flexibility, and trading KD would be a step in the right direction.
Phoenix made Durant available before the February deadline, which came as a shock to him. He nixed a trade to the Warriors, not because he wasn't interested in a reunion, but because he didn't want to be traded midseason. Durant wanted to see things through with the Suns.
Several teams, including Houston and Minnesota, reached out to Phoenix about KD before the deadline. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that those teams are expected to be interested in Durant again over the summer, but, of course, a lot hinges on how the teams in the playoffs perform.
The Rockets are down 3-1 against the Warriors in their first-round playoff series. Game 5 is on Wednesday, meaning Houston's season could end as soon as tonight. The Rockets finished the regular season as the No. 2 seed in the West, but lack the star power and shooting to keep up with the No. 7 Warriors. You know who could help? KD.
Rockets will have 'internal discussions' about pursuing a star this summer
On Wednesday, ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported that Houston will have "internal discussions at a minimum this summer regarding potential star pursuits in the trade market." MacMahon listed Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zion Williamson, and Ja Morant as possibilities.
The Rockets have the draft assets and young players to package in a deal, but don't seem to have the desire to go all-in on a star. MacMahon reported that Houston's brass "are aligned in the ambition to allow this young group to grow together." The Rockets aren't desperate for a star, even though Fred VanVleet said they lack the kind of player who can take over down the stretch of a playoff game.
Houston's patience since the James Harden trade saga has paid off. The team is well-positioned for the future. A first-round exit shouldn't spark concern for the Rockets; instead, it should be viewed as a valuable learning experience for a young squad.
Even though Houston believes in its young core, that doesn't mean the Rockets won't seriously pursue KD over the offseason, especially if Durant wants to go there. Phoenix can't rule out Houston as a potential trade partner. Not yet, at least.