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A surprise team is trying to land Phoenix Suns st Kevin Durant.
On Tuesday night, the Rockets set up a series of trades to stock up on first-round draft picks.
More in deal: Houston acquires 2029 more favorable of Dallas and Phoenix first-round pick and acquires right to swap Houston first-round pick for less favorable Dallas first and Phoenix first, per sources. https://t.co/jUR0f5lSjM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets made the moves to lure the Suns to trade Durant.
The implications of the Rockets landing the Suns' picks? Houston wants to trade for Kevin Durant and that becomes far easier if they can return the Suns' picks that they gave up in the Durant deal to the Nets. Suns have said they're keeping Durant for now, but that could change…
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
Brian Windhorst went on ESPN to talk about the Rockets aggressively going after Durant and said he didn’t believe Durant had asked for a trade out of Phoenix.
"[Houston Rockets] made this trade specifically to attempt to make a deal with the Suns. They did it to make a deal with the Suns NOW." @WindhorstESPN joined @UnSportsESPN pic.twitter.com/4UUYLcRRIj
— ESPN Radio (@ESPNRadio) June 26, 2024
According to Windhorst, the Rockets could sweeten the deal by adding up-and-coming center Alperen Sengun.
“One thing I want to point out: watch what the Rockets do tonight with the number three pick. This is one of the most important moments of the draft, and in many cases, this is where the draft kind of starts. If the Rockets take Donovan Clingan out of UConn, another center, which is an option for them, and now have a bunch of centers on their roster, that would potentially enable them to make Alperen Sengun, their very talented young Turkish center, available in that type of trade to dangle in front of the Suns.”