The Kevin Durant saga finally ended June 22 after the Phoenix Suns sent the two-time NBA champion to the Houston Rockets, one of his preferred landing spots, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
The Suns acquired Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks in return, an “underwhelming” package, per Arizona Sports’ Kellan Olson.
“It’s hard not to feel like Phoenix got punked in this deal based on what the player return is and isn’t, backed into a corner forced to cough up their lunch money,” Olson wrote on June 22.
The trade cannot be finalized until July 6 “because of the poison pill restriction in the Jalen Green rookie extension,” according to ESPN’s front office insider Bobby Marks.
Phoenix Suns’ Demands Rebuffed
Initially, the Suns demanded more from the Rockets.
But the Rockets were unwilling to add more of their young talents and just offered a haul of second-round picks, which the Suns accepted.
Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard are among the young talents in Houston that Phoenix has expressed interest in. The Rockets have not been willing to part with any of the three to this point,” ClutchPoints’ Brett Seigel reported on Friday, June 20.
The Rockets remained firm and got Durant at their price range while the Suns get Green, whom they might flip, and Brooks, who might remain and help them immediately to remain competitive.
But the headliner of the package is this year’s 10th pick, which the Suns originally sent to Brooklyn to acquire Durant in 2023.
Yet the Suns’ haul pale in comparison to what they gave up for two-and-a-half seasons of Durant which led to only one playoff appearance — a four-game sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves last year.
The Suns gave up four first-round picks and a pick swap on top of Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges for Durant at the trade deadline in 2023. Two of those picks remain with the Rockets.
Phoenix Just a Pit Stop for Jalen Green?
The Suns have already Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, who is unwilling to relinquish his no-trade clause, in their backcourt.
Green’s fit with them is clunky at its best. So, the 23-year-old guard remains a prime trade candidate. Though his trade value is considerably low at this point.
Before consummating the trade, the Suns have done their due diligence on Green, according to Michael Scotto of Hoopshype.
“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,” Scotto wrote on June 16.
Clutchpoint’s Brett Seigel reported on Friday, June 20, that the Suns have made no progress on Green’s trade market.
Green, a former No. 2 pick, averaged just 13.3 points on 37.2% overall shooting and 29.5% from the 3-point line in the Rockets’ firs-round loss to the Golden State Warriors.
The 23-year-old Rockets young star admitted the “lights were too bright” at the start of the playoffs. He averaged 21.0 points on 42.3% overall shooting and 35.4% from the 3-point line in the regular season where the Rockets clinched the No. 2 seed in the stacked Western Conference.
It remains to be seen whether the Suns can add more draft capital for their haul for Durant.
BREAKING: Suns Finally Trade Kevin Durant for Underwhelming Haul