KD to Houston w/Butler

[jredsaz]

Houston receives Kevin Durant
Miami receives Fred VanVleet, Tari Eason
Phoenix receives Jimmy Butler, Alec Burks, PHX 1sts 25 & 27 (via HOU)

Rockets add a top 10 guy to make a title push.
Next Move: Add a PG like Brogdon, Russell, Melton or possibly even Rozier.

Heat get out of the Butler business but get a prototype 3/D guy who would seem to fit Heat culture.
Next move: See what assets are available for FVV, Hero, Rozier, and Robinson.

Suns have to shake things up and if they go big KD is the odd man out given Beals NTC (and market) and Books status as the FOTF.
Next move: Add a center who can play NBA caliber basketball.

[LarsV8]

No interest in KD.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Yeah this is the kind of idea that I think PHX and Miami should pursue. Not sure if Houston bites or not.

[MessiahUjiri]

Does Durant even make sense for Houston? Their guys are so young, like 12 years younger than KD.

Booker makes a lot more sense.

[Kiss of Death]

Houston is looking for players who align with their core player's timeline.
They are not looking to trade core players for players with one or two decent seasons left.

[ThatBoyNick]

I’d definitely take KD for the right price. Expiring’s , Whitmore or Sheppard and one pick.

Adams, Landale, Jeff, Tate, Whitmore, Suns 2027 1st returned

PHX could easily turn that into a 3 way deal for Butler, sending the all the expirings and Whitmore, they get Jimmy and their 27 1st back.

If Hou could loop in an additional team for Jalen that could also make sense.

[jredsaz]

Houston is looking for players who align with their core player's timeline.
They are not looking to trade core players for players with one or two decent seasons left.

I mean they aren’t trading core players in this scenario.

[jredsaz]

I’d definitely take KD for the right price. Expiring’s , Whitmore or Sheppard and one pick.

Adams, Landale, Jeff, Tate, Whitmore, Suns 2027 1st returned

PHX could easily turn that into a 3 way deal for Butler, sending the all the expirings and Whitmore, they get Jimmy and their 27 1st back.

If Hou could loop in an additional team for Jalen that could also make sense.

I mean why in the world would the Suns and Heat make that deal?

[jredsaz]

Does Durant even make sense for Houston? Their guys are so young, like 12 years younger than KD.

Booker makes a lot more sense.

Addressed that in the OP. Doubt very much that Booker is on the table. KD either for that matter but he seems to be the only practical piece to move of the three.

[jredsaz]

Houston is looking for players who align with their core player's timeline.
They are not looking to trade core players for players with one or two decent seasons left.

I’ve never bought that line of thinking. CP3 didn’t align with the Suns core but he helped them to a finals. So much player movement, injuries, the new cap structure, unhappy stars year to year. I think it’s kinda foolish to just throw away opportunities like the next two seasons. If they chose to go more all in for a younger star I get it but they would have to go further into their core and pick stash.

[jredsaz]

No interest in KD.

I mean you dont I doubt the rockets feels the same.

[LarsV8]

No interest in KD.

I mean you dont I doubt the rockets feels the same.

https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-rockets-kevin-durant-trade-interest-overstated

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/rockets-gm-rafael-stone-says-they-want-to-develop-not-trade-for-a-star-we-do-not-intend-to-change-anything/#:~:text=In%20late%20October%2C%20after%20Houston,Rockets%20was%20that%20they%20were

[ThatBoyNick]

I’d definitely take KD for the right price. Expiring’s , Whitmore or Sheppard and one pick.

Adams, Landale, Jeff, Tate, Whitmore, Suns 2027 1st returned

PHX could easily turn that into a 3 way deal for Butler, sending the all the expirings and Whitmore, they get Jimmy and their 27 1st back.

If Hou could loop in an additional team for Jalen that could also make sense.

I mean why in the world would the Suns and Heat make that deal?

For the Heat, to clear Jimmy for a prospect and expirings, for PHX to shake things up while recouping one of their UNP picks. If it’s not worth it for either team then they shouldn’t do it.

[Kiss of Death]

Houston is looking for players who align with their core player's timeline.
They are not looking to trade core players for players with one or two decent seasons left.

I mean they aren’t trading core players in this scenario.

Tari Eason is a core player.

[jredsaz]

I’d definitely take KD for the right price. Expiring’s , Whitmore or Sheppard and one pick.

Adams, Landale, Jeff, Tate, Whitmore, Suns 2027 1st returned

PHX could easily turn that into a 3 way deal for Butler, sending the all the expirings and Whitmore, they get Jimmy and their 27 1st back.

If Hou could loop in an additional team for Jalen that could also make sense.

I mean why in the world would the Suns and Heat make that deal?

For the Heat, to clear Jimmy for a prospect and expirings, for PHX to shake things up while recouping one of their UNP picks. If it’s not worth it for either team then they shouldn’t do it.

It’s just not a realistic offer at all. So no, I doubt anyone would do that.

[jredsaz]

Houston is looking for players who align with their core player's timeline.
They are not looking to trade core players for players with one or two decent seasons left.

I mean they aren’t trading core players in this scenario.

Tari Eason is a core player.

Go ahead and list the Rockets core players in order of value to the team. Just curious.

[jredsaz]

No interest in KD.

I mean you dont I doubt the rockets feels the same.

https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-rockets-kevin-durant-trade-interest-overstated

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/rockets-gm-rafael-stone-says-they-want-to-develop-not-trade-for-a-star-we-do-not-intend-to-change-anything/#:~:text=In%20late%20October%2C%20after%20Houston,Rockets%20was%20that%20they%20were

I remember that time last week when Pat Riley came out and said the Heat weren’t trading Jimmy Butler.

[BrianInPhilly]

Houston is looking for players who align with their core player's timeline.
They are not looking to trade core players for players with one or two decent seasons left.

I’ve never bought that line of thinking. CP3 didn’t align with the Suns core but he helped them to a finals. So much player movement, injuries, the new cap structure, unhappy stars year to year. I think it’s kinda foolish to just throw away opportunities like the next two seasons. If they chose to go more all in for a younger star I get it but they would have to go further into their core and pick stash.

Great post - agreed. The idea a team as a "timeline" and thus every player acquired should be able to be on that team for 5-10 years assumed is not practical, and doesn't make sense to anyone who has followed team building the past 10 years. You just have to get better. So much player movement.

Surprised to hear some thoughts in this thread - I'd be all over this if I was Houston, and if I'm Phoenix or Miami I'd say hell no. No way Houston can get Durant for a struggling Van Fleet, Tari Eason, and 2 1st rounders. Not even close to enough for a legit Top 10/15 player still signed through next season.

[jredsaz]

Houston is looking for players who align with their core player's timeline.
They are not looking to trade core players for players with one or two decent seasons left.

I’ve never bought that line of thinking. CP3 didn’t align with the Suns core but he helped them to a finals. So much player movement, injuries, the new cap structure, unhappy stars year to year. I think it’s kinda foolish to just throw away opportunities like the next two seasons. If they chose to go more all in for a younger star I get it but they would have to go further into their core and pick stash.

Great post - agreed. The idea a team as a "timeline" and thus every player acquired should be able to be on that team for 5-10 years assumed is not practical, and doesn't make sense to anyone who has followed team building the past 10 years. You just have to get better. So much player movement.

Surprised to hear some thoughts in this thread - I'd be all over this if I was Houston, and if I'm Phoenix or Miami I'd say hell no. No way Houston can get Durant for a struggling Van Fleet, Tari Eason, and 2 1st rounders. Not even close to enough for a legit Top 10/15 player still signed through next season.

Would be hard to pull the trigger from the Suns side but I thought it gave the team some needed options moving forward. Miami is tough to gauge at this point.

[ThatBoyNick]

I mean they aren’t trading core players in this scenario.

Tari Eason is a core player.

Go ahead and list the Rockets core players in order of value to the team. Just curious.

my personal take

A tier - Sengun / Thompson

B tier - Eason / Smith

C tier - Green / Whitmore / Sheppard

The only reason Eason isn't A tier is because of his injuries, his impact when healthy is huge.