The Phoenix Suns said goodbye to Kevin Durant this offseason, with not a single playoff game win to show for his two full seasons in The Valley. Durant was with the roster for the tail end of the 2023 postseason having come over at the deadline, and it is ironic that for all of owner Mat Ishbia's tinkering, that version of the team that got to the second round is the closest they got with Durant.
The 36-year-old is now with the Houston Rockets - and although many said the Suns would be legit contenders after acquiring the superstar - it is even more true of Houston. They have the ascending Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson around him, while Fred VanVleet is a point guard who will find him in his spots for easy baskets.
Suns should have pushed harder for more first round picks in deal.
One of the main sticking points in the package that Phoenix got back for Durant was the fact that they didn't manage to secure their own first rounder in 2027. The Rockets having nabbed that themselves from a previous trade with the Brooklyn Nets. The Suns did manage to get their 2025 selection back, and they took center Khaman Maluach. A raw prospect who will take time to settle.
Reunited in Houston 🤝
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) September 18, 2025
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But as ESPN so excellently laid out recently, the Rockets have nine future first round picks coming their way, as well as four seconds. Getting what turned out to be the Maluach selection was the least the Suns could have expected in giving up one of the best players of all-time, and in hindsight it feels like they lost the potential to add more picks at the negotiating table.
Even if they couldn't secure their own 2027 pick - that really is among the most valuable assets in the entire league right now - you're telling us the Suns couldn't have convinced the Rockets to put another first or two in there? Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green are both great additions for different reasons - but if the Suns are serious about rebuilding - then picks are king.
As it is they did well to also add Koby Brea and Rasheer Fleming during the draft this offseason, but the potential was clearly there to get more. The Rockets are attempting to do more successfully what the Golden State Warriors once did, and build both for the present in trading for Durant, but also the future in stockpiling picks.
If they had very little draft capital themselves then you would say that the Suns did well to get the Maluach pick in the deal. Only they've a lot more coming their way, which only highlights how the front office in The Valley were outsmarted here. They're neither good enough to win or have the picks to warrant tanking either. A terrible spot that could have been fixed with another Rockets' pick.