Rockets Rumor: Not Kevin Durant, but This Suns All-Star Gets Targeted Along With Ex DPOY, as All Hail Breaks Lose in Houston

All this while it seemed the Houston Rockets were bringing pieces together to trade for Kevin Durant. They acquired the Suns’ lost picks from the Brooklyn Nets on draft day and were even considering offering breakout star Alperen Sengun if it meant the Slim Reaper would join. But what if that was never true and Houston craved for someone else all along? During an ESPN segment, Stephen A. Smith’s update was enough to shake the grounds in Phoenix.

“I am reporting here: Pay no attention to what Phoenix is saying, they want out of Kevin Durant right now”, he told the crew. It brought a wave of shock and astonishment even to Brian Windhorst who had been advocating for a Durant trade. This would easily clear the path for the Rockets to trade for the 36-year-old now that they have potentially three Suns picks and a talented star to offer. But it seems they are after the Suns’ pillar Devin Booker as per Smith.

“Houston doesn’t want Kevin Durant. Ime Udoka may want him but organizationally they know that they are not there yet,” Smith suggested. According to the face of ESPN, the Rockets aren’t as desperate for a star as the reports have claimed. Instead, they are willing to wait a few more seasons before proposing a mega trade for Devin Booker.

How the Rockets plan to rope Devin Booker

The first step of the process has already been set into motion. According to Michael Scotto, Udoka remains a major fan of his former player and now Grizzlies point guard Marcus Smart. He and Smart spent a season together on the Boston Celtics where the defensive expert won a historic DPOY.

If it is to be a long process, it seems the Rockets could formulate a trade for Sart from Memphis and play out the season with their current roster. The Suns have either way proposed to run their core of KD, Booker, and Bradley Beal again next season to see their effectiveness when fully healthy. In case it doesn’t work and Ishbia decides to break the roster apart, Houston will have an offer ready on the table.

“Now that the Rockets have the Suns’ first-round picks, if there comes a time when Phoenix doesn’t go forward with this group – if this group has to disassemble at some point – Houston’s a team now, whether it’s Kevin Durant but I think even more so a younger Devin Booker whose timeline fits with this Houston team, the Rockets are in position now if they want to pursue players on that Suns team,” Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

Devin Booker will only be 29 by the time the 2026 season comes around. He has spent all his NBA life in Phoenix and has prioritized winning more than anything ever since making the NBA Finals four seasons ago. D-Book is a destructive offensive force who could be the anchor for the Rockets who are developing a young core. Booker averaged 27.1 points and displayed improved playmaking with a career-high 6.9 assists per game.

Fred VanVleet is potentially on his last season with Houston with the 2-26 season being a club option. If they feel confident to lure Booker, the Suns’ scoring maniac will replace the veteran VanVleet as the leading initiator. Either way, it’s about to be a gripping situation in Houston soon.

But before you go, be sure to check this video of Leonardo Armato’s take on the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe.