The Houston Rockets have traded picks with the Brooklyn Nets in hopes of acquiring Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported.
The Rockets received the rights to the Suns' 2027 first-rounder, which Wojnarowski explained would make it “easier” for Houston to trade Durant.
“The Suns have said they will keep Durant for now, but that could change next season,” Wojnarowski wrote. “But now, Houston has the picks to make the Suns whole again.”
The Nets got back a 2026 first-round pick as part of the deal, which was previously supposed to go to the Rockets.
Wojnarowski reported that the Rockets also acquired the right to exchange their 2025 first-round pick with the Suns' 2025 first-rounder, currently held by either Houston or the Oklahoma City Thunder.
As part of the deal, the team gives up its right to swap picks for the Nets’ 2025 first-rounder.
According to Wojnarowski, Houston also earned the more favorable selection among the Suns and Mavericks' first-round picks in 2029, as well as the right to swap its first-round pick with the set's less favorable selection.
With the possibility of controlling the Suns' 2025, 2027 and 2029 selections, the Rockets have now earned back some of the draft capital the Suns sent to Brooklyn as part of their trade for Durant in 2023.
However, Wojnarowski said Houston isn’t quite ready to use those picks to trade for Durant, who still has two seasons remaining on his contract with the Suns.
“As eager as the Rockets are to land Durant, they now appear determined to use the Suns' pick on deals elsewhere,” Wojnarowski wrote.
The Rockets could still potentially use the picks to make a deal with the Suns even if they don't pursue Durant. Wojnarowski noted that Houston is in “prime position” to make a bid for Phoenix guard Devin Booker.
Durant is beginning his sophomore campaign at age 36 but remains a trade target after averaging 27.1 points in 75 games last season. The Suns will have to decide whether to take advantage of that value or get things moving again with their core trio of Durant, Booker and Bradley Beal.