If the latest rumors around the league are to be believed, the Houston Rockets are preparing to give Jalen Green exactly what he desires: A long-term home in the Space City. Rumors continue to swirl about a potential Kevin Durant deal with the Rockets, but it doesn't look like a trade is anywhere close to being done in reality.
Several reports have revealed that Green "wants to stay" in Houston, and doesn't have any desire to go elsewhere. Durant is obviously a big name on the trade market, but the Phoenix Suns' probable asking price is likely what has kept the Rockets from going all-in up to this point.
Houston being seemingly hesitant in these dealings may signal them being comfortable where they're currently at, and being patient when it comes to building a championship contender with their current roster. And honestly, this would be the correct move.
We've seen rumors in the past that this front office was flirting with adding a bigger star player, but there's no need to panic and do something you'll ultimately regret later. Ime Udoka has done a masterful job of encouraging internal development, and keeping Jalen Green in town would align with that vision.
Jalen Green wants to remain a Houston Rocket
No, we haven't seen Green blossom into a true star-level player yet, but the flashes continue to be encouraging. That's why I would be skeptical of the idea of packaging him in a massive deal to bring Kevin Durant to Houston.
Yes, Durant is one of the greatest scorers of all-time. But he's getting a bit older at this point in his career. And although he might raise the Rockets' ceiling in the short-term, adding him would also run the risk of derailing what Houston has been slowly and methodically building.
Frankly, the Rockets don't need to make some surprise move this summer and bring in Kevin Durant. Their young core is already ascending quicker than the outsiders would have guessed. They have plenty of useful draft capital. And assuming the front office can figure out a re-structured deal for Fred VanVleet in the coming weeks, they'll be in a position to be financially flexible as well.
It feels safe to say that Jalen Green will get his wish of staying in Houston this summer. And in the long-term, that's the outcome that Houston Rockets fans should be hoping for as well.