As the Houston Rockets face many questions after the team's NBA Playoffs flop, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round in six games, the conversation now surrounds star Kevin Durant. With the Rockets looking to bounce back after the playoffs fail, some could think that the team should trade Durant, though this NBA insider details why the franchise won't.
According to ClutchPoints' NBA insider Brett Siegel in his Friday column, Houston holds “no immediate intention” of dealing away Durant this offseason, with the focus still being that he can make the team with its young core better.
“Internally, the Rockets hold no immediate intention of trading Durant this summer, sources told ClutchPoints. Rafael Stone and the Rockets' front office targeted Durant with the idea of him not only elevating their championship expectations but also helping guide this young core forward,” Siegel wrote.
Signing a two-year contract extension with Houston last October, worth $90 million, the deal was seen as “team-friendly,” so they could build around Durant, which they failed to do during the last trade deadline. Also, with a $46.1 million player option, there will continue to be questions around Durant's status with the Rockets.
Will Kevin Durant put pressure on the Rockets?
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Last season, Durant had another productive season as he averaged 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from deep. Some could say that the Rockets relied on his offense too much, especially with Fred VanVleet missing the entire season.
Siegel wonders if Durant will “put pressure” on Houston to make a big move or if he wants another “change of scenery.”
“That final question is perhaps the biggest one of them all, especially considering the alleged burner account Durant has been accused of using to talk down on some of his teammates and questioning the intelligence of some of them. Whether this was actually Durant or not, some of the things said were accurate, but you just can't say them,” Siegel wrote.
Durant and the Rockets look to further improve after finishing 52-30, putting them fifth in the West.
As the Houston Rockets face many questions after the team's NBA Playoffs flop, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round in six games, the conversation now surrounds star Kevin Durant. With the Rockets looking to bounce back after the playoffs fail, some could think that the team should trade Durant, though this NBA insider details why the franchise won't.