Now, KD to GS

pipfan · Post #1 » by **pipfan** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 8:08 am

Since GS lost out on LBJ, do they make a move for KD?

Butler for KD/Capela/GS' 2028 1st unprotected

Hou is not a contender, clearly. Yes, KD is still a great player, but for how much longer? I think Hou should take this season to reset their roster and build for 2027 and forward. They could easily still be a Playin team after deal KD, but with the Suns' 2027 1st (Suns will probably be worse this year) and the Nets swap option, they have great options coming up

The 2028 draft looks good, and GS could easily suck pretty quickly, even w/ KD.
Hou goes into this year with
FVV/Reed
Smart/Thorton
Amen/Bogs
JSmith/Eason
Sengun/Adams
They can buyout Butler to save $ (and he can sign whereever he wants-I'm sure he'd take $5 million off his deal for his freedom)
Then, next summer they have Reed/Amen/JSmith/Sengun/Eason as their core, with 2 possible top 10 picks and tons of cap space, plus the 2028 GS pick to play with

Better than another 1st round beating, I'd think

GS goes for it-not need to explain here-big upgrade for a future asset

Post #2 » by **zimpy27** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 8:43 am

Actually cool idea but can't see Rockets doing that.

Would love to see Wizards get their hometown kid.
He'd fit well with Trae, AJ, Davis.

nykballa2k4 · Post #3 » by **nykballa2k4** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 11:59 am

Rockets have a very odd roster IMO, but I like the general concept of OP here. I like most trades that involve KD leaving the Rockets though.

Rockets don't even need to buy out Butler. They can probably tread and then have playoff Jimmy with Ime coaching.

Xman · Post #4 » by **Xman** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 4:18 pm

Houston has many guys that are 32-33 years old.
Vleet, Smart, Bogdanovic, Adams, and Capela. KD is 37.
Does not make sense to “step back” unless we deal them all. All six of them might have two more years where they are worth much. In three years, probably all gone and looking at only Amen/Jabari/Sengun/Eason/Sheppard remaining.
Some of them and the 2027/2029 first rounders is the three year future.

Houston can go for it now and still be in a good spot in three years. One GS first is definitely not worth giving up trying to win.

LightTheBeam · Post #5 » by **LightTheBeam** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 4:27 pm

Didn't like when they got KD, and hate keeping him now. He quit on that team last year in the first round against a Luka and a half a reaves Lakers.

They should ship him out and commit to the youth. Especially now when being in that middle is actually okay.

Post #6 » by **Texas Chuck** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 4:37 pm

LightTheBeam wrote:Didn't like when they got KD, and hate keeping him now. He quit on that team last year in the first round against a Luka and a half a reaves Lakers.

They should ship him out and commit to the youth. Especially now when being in that middle is actually okay.

He got hurt. Why are you labeling that quitting?

LarsV8 · Post #7 » by **LarsV8** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 4:44 pm

A first is the cost to eat Butler. Now you need to add to get an all nba 2nd team player.

Post #8 » by **nate33** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 5:02 pm

zimpy27 wrote:Actually cool idea but can't see Rockets doing that.

Would love to see Wizards get their hometown kid.
He'd fit well with Trae, AJ, Davis.

The Wizards would have to send out Davis (or Trae) in any KD deal.

davidv2001 · Post #9 » by **davidv2001** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 5:21 pm

The Rockets have won more than 50 games in each of the last two seasons. They also just hired Chip Engelland to address their shooting woes and signed two veteran guards in free agency (Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic). They see themselves as contenders, and Udoka needs to win a playoff series this year.

They are not trading Kevin Durant unless it makes them better on the court for this season. This trade doesn’t do that. The Rockets easily pass here.

nykballa2k4 · Post #10 » by **nykballa2k4** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 5:59 pm

Texas Chuck wrote:
LightTheBeam wrote:Didn't like when they got KD, and hate keeping him now. He quit on that team last year in the first round against a Luka and a half a reaves Lakers.

They should ship him out and commit to the youth. Especially now when being in that middle is actually okay.

He got hurt. Why are you labeling that quitting?

burner killed the team

Post #11 » by **Texas Chuck** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 6:13 pm

nykballa2k4 wrote:
Texas Chuck wrote:
LightTheBeam wrote:Didn't like when they got KD, and hate keeping him now. He quit on that team last year in the first round against a Luka and a half a reaves Lakers.

They should ship him out and commit to the youth. Especially now when being in that middle is actually okay.

He got hurt. Why are you labeling that quitting?

burner killed the team

Nah man. Anyone bothered by KD and burners in 2026 already isn't mentally ready to compete at this level. I'm just not buying that.

davidv2001 · Post #12 » by **davidv2001** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 6:16 pm

nykballa2k4 wrote:
Texas Chuck wrote:
LightTheBeam wrote:Didn't like when they got KD, and hate keeping him now. He quit on that team last year in the first round against a Luka and a half a reaves Lakers.

They should ship him out and commit to the youth. Especially now when being in that middle is actually okay.

He got hurt. Why are you labeling that quitting?

burner killed the team

If the burner stuff was still an issue, Durant would have been traded prior to the draft or free agency, and Reed Sheppard would not be working out with him in California. This board is making a far bigger issue out of it than the Rockets are.

pipfan · Post #13 » by **pipfan** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 7:08 pm

davidv2001 wrote:The Rockets have won more than 50 games in each of the last two seasons. They also just hired Chip Engelland to address their shooting woes and signed two veteran guards in free agency (Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic). They see themselves as contenders, and Udoka needs to win a playoff series this year.

They are not trading Kevin Durant unless it makes them better on the court for this season. This trade doesn’t do that. The Rockets easily pass here.

Sure, makes sense
But, they SHOULD trade KD-they could have a REALLY good 2027 off season with a nice young core, cap space and picks

The West is just too tough

davidv2001 · Post #14 » by **davidv2001** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 7:18 pm

pipfan wrote:
davidv2001 wrote:The Rockets have won more than 50 games in each of the last two seasons. They also just hired Chip Engelland to address their shooting woes and signed two veteran guards in free agency (Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic). They see themselves as contenders, and Udoka needs to win a playoff series this year.

They are not trading Kevin Durant unless it makes them better on the court for this season. This trade doesn’t do that. The Rockets easily pass here.

Sure, makes sense
But, they SHOULD trade KD-they could have a REALLY good 2027 off season with a nice young core, cap space and picks

The West is just too tough

It doesn’t matter what any of us think the Rockets should do. The Rockets aren’t trading Durant unless it better positions them to contend this season. The front office certainly isn’t taking the approach that the Western Conference is too tough this season, and they should reset their timeline. Also, Ime Udoka has to win a playoff series this season, or he could be fired.

Furthermore, the Rockets will not have cap space next offseason because Amen Thompson is now extension eligible, and Rafael Stone isn’t going to drag his feet on an extension with how high he is on him.

Any proposal where Durant is being traded for what amounts to salary relief and future picks is a non starter for the Rockets, unless Durant requests a trade.

louc1970 · Post #15 » by **louc1970** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 7:23 pm

I don’t see Houston giving up a FRP to move Durant and then take on a player who will not play most of the year.
Pick should go the other way.

babyjax13 · Post #16 » by **babyjax13** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 7:47 pm

louc1970 wrote:I don’t see Houston giving up a FRP to move Durant and then take on a player who will not play most of the year.
Pick should go the other way.

Agree. I think it should be something like Butler + the 2028 GSW 1st (and maybe one more pick, not sure).

NW · Post #17 » by NW » Sat Jul 25, 2026 8:58 pm

KD didn’t want to come to GS last time when they pivoted to Jimmy. Doubt he’s any more inclined to come now.

He knows Kerr’s style wins games, but he doesn’t like playing it. Not enough iso. He’s done a number of social media comments on it.

Dr Positivity · Post #18 » by **Dr Positivity** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 9:01 pm

I think the Rockets have a .500 start to the season and then trade Durant for Harden

pipfan · Post #19 » by **pipfan** » Sat Jul 25, 2026 9:17 pm

louc1970 wrote:I don’t see Houston giving up a FRP to move Durant and then take on a player who will not play most of the year.
Pick should go the other way.

No, maybe I wasn't clear. GS gives up their 2028 1st for KD

nykballa2k4 · Post #20 » by **nykballa2k4** » Sun Jul 26, 2026 1:56 am

Texas Chuck wrote:
nykballa2k4 wrote:
Texas Chuck wrote:
He got hurt. Why are you labeling that quitting?

burner killed the team

Nah man. Anyone bothered by KD and burners in 2026 already isn't mentally ready to compete at this level. I'm just not buying that.

I don't know how you look at the dude next to you when you know he is looking to stab you in the back.