The Kevin Durant sweepstakes is picking up steam and fast. This means there is plenty of intel coming out from league sources with regard to how it all can unfold in the coming days.
There have been plenty of contenders emerge in the trade sweepstakes for the services of Durant. One team that has remained consistently linked to the Phoenix Suns throughout the entire 2024-25 NBA season has been the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets have felt like a natural trade partner for the Suns, amid a potential rebuild or retool, due to Houston having possession of a handful of future draft assets for Phoenix. On top of that, they have plenty of young talent to offer in a trade package.
One of those key names is Jalen Green. The 2021 top-five pick has enjoyed a solid start to his career, but not one that would be likely to make him untouchable in negotiations for a big fish like Durant.
Jalen Green exits the court after the Rockets' Game 7 loss.
Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets.
© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Green averaged a disappointing 13.3 points and 2.9 assists in the Rockets' first-round series against the Golden State Warriors. The athletic guard shot a woeful 37.2 percent from the field and a miserable 29.5 percent from beyond the arc.
If Green were to be included for the trade package that landed Durant in Houston, it does not appear as though the Suns want to bring him to Phoenix. Michael Scotto reported that the Suns would likely reroute the Rockets guard.
"In a potential trade with the Suns for Durant, Houston could include guard Jalen Green and his $33.33 million salary for the 2025-26 season," Scotto wrote. "With guards Devin Booker and Bradley Beal already on the roster, ... Phoenix has done background on Green to gauge his value around the league in case Green is acquired, and it’s worthwhile to flip him again via trade, league sources told HoopsHype."
Considering most indications coming out of Phoenix have been that the Suns want to keep Booker around, a backcourt pairing of him and Green would not make a ton of sense. It is understandable why the Suns would pivot away from the Rockets guard.