The Official 2025 Offseason Thread Part 1

[lilfishi22]

I don't think we could have asked for a better way to lose for Houston.

First, this doesn't mean they are def going to go after KD, and it doesn't mean they will suddenly overpay.
But it proves their current shortcomings.
I still think they should go after the biggest fish in Giannis, but don't think he fixes what happened here.

At minimum, Houston should realize KD can plug a lot of the holes they have offensively.

100%

Getting absolutely demolished like the Heat did showed just how far they are from putting together a truly competitive team. Certainly not one KD away. Rockets went to 7 against a very experienced team with plenty of continuity between championship level players on the roster and coaching staff. If I were the Rockets, I could realistically convince myself the Rockets were one KD away from relatively comfortably moving onto the 2nd round.

[lilfishi22]

Because no one is beating the Thunder or Celtics for the foreseeable future with their current roster construction.
Thompson and Brooks plus 3 unprotected 1sts
Or Smith and Thompson and picks
Or Smith, Brooks, Eason, Sheppard and all our picks back.

I don't think the third one
I don't think they are giving up Thompson and 3 unprotected FRPs unless you mean their own picks
But I think they like Thompson

My guess it will be Brooks, Smith and a couple of the Suns picks back

0% chance Rockets are giving Amen in any trade

You might be closer to the Rockets thinking but is it true they won't give up Amen even for Giannis in a hypothetical trade ?

[lilfishi22]

Jake Fischer

The Rockets, league sources say, did not see
themselves as a championship threat ...not even
after snagging the West's No. 2 seed.

They understand that the Thunder, while even younger
are farther along in the chase for true contention
Yet much like Oklahoma City last season, Houstor nad been planning to use this entire seasor especially the playoffs - to evaluate a roster filled with recent lottery picks the plan was always to capitalize on the crucible of the postseason for crucial data collection before deciding what major swings, if any, to take this offseason it was strongly conveyed to The Stein Line going Into the playoffs that a Houston trade pursuit of Durant had become even "less likely" than previously thought.

The Suns naturally want the Rockets to want to Durant and, according to league sources, did try to engage them in Durant dialogue before the Feb.6 trade deadline.

It makes total sense for Phoenix, given that
Houston has swap-rights control of the Suns
first-round pick this June and again in 2027 and
2029, but the Rockets passed on the concept then and remain resistant to entertaining the idea of surrendering premium assets in a trade for a 36-year-old with one season left on his current contract.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/eNPJMrO5zl

It's post playoffs now and they pushed a very savvy veteran team to 7. I think that's certainly worth consideration

[garrick]

I don't think the third one
I don't think they are giving up Thompson and 3 unprotected FRPs unless you mean their own picks
But I think they like Thompson

My guess it will be Brooks, Smith and a couple of the Suns picks back

0% chance Rockets are giving Amen in any trade

I think Suns fans are going off the Durant to the Nets trade as a baseline for the Rockets. That was a stupid owner making a trade

I think the Rockets see the future. Yes, a player like Durant would have helped them in the half court last night. But this is also YEAR 1 - they aren't going to do something stupid -- stupid owners are saved for the Suns

Brooks, Jock Londale, maybe Jabari Smith and a couple FRPs - one the Suns and maybe one of Houstons -- that will be about. Maybe the glass is half empty but I just don't see anything more than "thats a good trade considering where the Suns are at, Durant is at.." from the NBA pundits and analysts type of narrative.

I think they would want to get rid of Green though given his horrible play in the post season and he strikes me as a Kelly Oubre type of player who can sometimes get hot but just is not a very smart of efficient offienseive player who is getting 30M per season.

I suppose thoough that the Rockets can choose to be patient since time is on their side and it makes no sense to rush into a major trade because they aren't exactly hoping to win it all anytime soon.

[lilfishi22]

0% chance Rockets are giving Amen in any trade

I think Suns fans are going off the Durant to the Nets trade as a baseline for the Rockets. That was a stupid owner making a trade

I think the Rockets see the future. Yes, a player like Durant would have helped them in the half court last night. But this is also YEAR 1 - they aren't going to do something stupid -- stupid owners are saved for the Suns

Brooks, Jock Londale, maybe Jabari Smith and a couple FRPs - one the Suns and maybe one of Houstons -- that will be about. Maybe the glass is half empty but I just don't see anything more than "thats a good trade considering where the Suns are at, Durant is at.." from the NBA pundits and analysts type of narrative.

I think they would want to get rid of Green though given his horrible play in the post season and he strikes me as a Kelly Oubre type of player who can sometimes get hot but just is not a very smart of efficient offienseive player who is getting 30M per season.

I suppose thoough that the Rockets can choose to be patient since time is on their side and it makes no sense to rush into a major trade because they aren't exactly hoping to win it all anytime soon.

They have the option to be patient. A lot of their young guys won't be due for a big pay day for a few years, even Sengun is on a pretty friendly extension (by today's standards) so they definitely don't need to go all in for either Giannis or KD.

I wonder if they want to strike while the iron is hot though. Watching the Rockets in the playoffs, they were just super competitive against the far more experienced Warriors and it wasn't until G7 when they just lacked a guy they could go to to elevate them on the offensive end. Not to say KD is the ONLY option to fill that gap but he's right there and I think he would bring tremendous strength to where they are weak.

[bullsaficianado]

Suns trade KD
Bucks trade Giannis
Houston trades Jabari Smith, Jalen Green, Whitmore, and 1st

Suns get Giannis lol

This is like thinking you will get that hot chick in high school but hey sign me up.

[Puff]

Then they don’t get KD. Simple as that. They’re not beating the thunder with Amen any time soon

What if the above is the best trade option they have? Are you keeping Durant out of spite and keeping the same issues you had this past year with less ability in the future to improve your roster and will be stuck with Durant as an expiring or trade deadline deal

The Suns just don't the leverage. Booker - sure - they don't need to take a better than below an solid A trade. Durant is a different story

Suns already addressed their biggest issues (coach and gm).
The next issue is role players.
KD Book and Beal are not issues

The biggest issue is choosing the right coach. It doesn't matter who is on the roster if this team does not have a legit leader. I do not think we will ever know how much harm Bud did to this team. We do have talent.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

[TeamTragic]

Read on Twitter

What did Gambo say about KD?

[lilfishi22]

Read on Twitter

Wouldn't trust the word of Gambo as gospel either.

[Bogyo]

What if the above is the best trade option they have? Are you keeping Durant out of spite and keeping the same issues you had this past year with less ability in the future to improve your roster and will be stuck with Durant as an expiring or trade deadline deal

The Suns just don't the leverage. Booker - sure - they don't need to take a better than below an solid A trade. Durant is a different story

Suns already addressed their biggest issues (coach and gm).
The next issue is role players.
KD Book and Beal are not issues

The biggest issue is choosing the right coach. It doesn't matter who is on the roster if this team does not have a legit leader. I do not think we will ever know how much harm Bud did to this team. We do have talent.

Not sure why everyone is hung up on the coach. We recycled through 3 coaches in like 3 seasons, and some of them were championship winning ones. You can have jesusfcgchrist walk on water and preach to these dumb primadonna mofos (who dont fit together to begin with), they will not be doing what jesusfngchrist tells them - so they will not be winning basketball games. But they will be "unbothered".

[Son of Ra]

I think the non homer reality is that nobody wants Durant. Every trade that seems even value or fair to you/us is a pipe dream. It would take a Prokhorov, Harrison or...Ishbia as trade partner.
We'll either get no takers and run it back or 40 cents on the dollar which implies...he's worth 40 cents.

Many of us hated the trade and not just because it was an overpay. Durant ain't him and now he's 37. Why would anyone else want him now?

[Puff]

I think the non homer reality is that nobody wants Durant. Every trade that seems even value or fair to you/us is a pipe dream. It would take a Prokhorov, Harrison or...Ishbia as trade partner.
We'll either get no takers and run it back or 40 cents on the dollar which implies...he's worth 40 cents.

Many of us hated the trade and not just because it was an overpay. Durant ain't him and now he's 37. Why would anyone else want him now?

If we had the Rockets roster, would you trade our young talent and draft picks for Kevin Durant?

If you would not make that trade. Why in the world will the Rockets male that trade?

KD will be a Sun next year and will receive a 2 year extension from Gregory and Ish.

[Saberestar]

Jake Fischer

The Rockets, league sources say, did not see
themselves as a championship threat ...not even
after snagging the West's No. 2 seed.

They understand that the Thunder, while even younger
are farther along in the chase for true contention
Yet much like Oklahoma City last season, Houstor nad been planning to use this entire seasor especially the playoffs - to evaluate a roster filled with recent lottery picks the plan was always to capitalize on the crucible of the postseason for crucial data collection before deciding what major swings, if any, to take this offseason it was strongly conveyed to The Stein Line going Into the playoffs that a Houston trade pursuit of Durant had become even "less likely" than previously thought.

The Suns naturally want the Rockets to want to Durant and, according to league sources, did try to engage them in Durant dialogue before the Feb.6 trade deadline.

It makes total sense for Phoenix, given that
Houston has swap-rights control of the Suns
first-round pick this June and again in 2027 and
2029, but the Rockets passed on the concept then and remain resistant to entertaining the idea of surrendering premium assets in a trade for a 36-year-old with one season left on his current contract.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/eNPJMrO5zl

It's post playoffs now and they pushed a very savvy veteran team to 7. I think that's certainly worth consideration

At the end of the day the 2nd seed lost against the 7th seed and that has to be tough to them.

I would be surprised if they don't make any changes. Probably they don't try to get KD but they would try to get another veteran scorer.

[Saberestar]

I think the non homer reality is that nobody wants Durant. Every trade that seems even value or fair to you/us is a pipe dream. It would take a Prokhorov, Harrison or...Ishbia as trade partner.
We'll either get no takers and run it back or 40 cents on the dollar which implies...he's worth 40 cents.

Many of us hated the trade and not just because it was an overpay. Durant ain't him and now he's 37. Why would anyone else want him now?

Come on, it's early May.

Butler/Kuminga/2 FRPs.
Randle/DiVincenzo/?.

Those offers were on the table at the deadline. There are gonna be very good offers for KD.

[Rebound Mound]

The Rockets are a step away of signing a 37 year old who would jack up 30 shots for 23 points on a seven 7th game first round that would see his team mates score 75 points among them all while they see another year of elimination while having spent some or a lot of assets the year prior just to see the same outcome but performed by a 37 year old instead of a 23 yo with a world to learn...

I just hope they get KD and give us 2/3 interesting things/players, but I just think they are not that stupid... Their situation is not desperate. Ours is.

[Rebound Mound]

If the offers for KD are not enticing, this is the way I would take:

- try to Trade Beal, if the offers are also not good, then...
- trade Booker for the best possible package of players and/or assets. A first level PF should be the primary objective.
- do minor changes so we can create a starting five which has some balance: a PG, Beal, KD, new PF and Richards.
- keep the bench of Morris or Gillespie, XXX, Allen, Ball Ball and Plumlee.
- trade ONeale for a more athletic wing.

Wait a year and let KD go when he is 38, getting 55 millions to sign whoever we want to. Clippers did that and the result has been much better than the one they would got with PG13 in. A S&T could be considered, but rating random players just for the reason of not being left with empty hands is not the way I would go.

Repeat that with Beal in two years, unless a good offer is presented.

[BobbieL]

I think the non homer reality is that nobody wants Durant. Every trade that seems even value or fair to you/us is a pipe dream. It would take a Prokhorov, Harrison or...Ishbia as trade partner.
We'll either get no takers and run it back or 40 cents on the dollar which implies...he's worth 40 cents.

Many of us hated the trade and not just because it was an overpay. Durant ain't him and now he's 37. Why would anyone else want him now?

I think Durant will have value to the Rockets and other teams
Just NOT the value Suns wants for him since Ishbia so stupidly overpaid for him

My guess, Durant will go to a team like the Twolves or Heat., maybe the Rockets

But the deal for the Rockets will be something like Brooks, Londale, maybe Jabari Smith and a FRP - its not going to be great
and the suns should just accept it

Like Beal- take your medicine, don't do something stupid like trade away a first round pick. If he takes the 30m pay cut and they stretch him, I think thats stupid as its five years and not two. but just don't trade away picks

[BobbieL]

Read on Twitter

Wouldn't trust the word of Gambo as gospel either.

Gambo will say what won't happen but he will not break any Durant trades

[Ghost of Kleine]

Now the interesting flip side to possibly not trading KD and (also not extending him) running it back and letting him just play out his contract would be that Mikal Bridges is an unrestricted free agent in 26' and Cam Johnson would be an unrestricted free agent in 27 when Beal would come off the books.

Now I get how terrible this scenario seems without getting promising young players and picks back, and we'd likely be bad anyways. BUT.............

Doing this would at least give us upwards of 54 million for the summer of 26' possibly bringing back Bridges, and then 57 million in 27' to then bring back Cam Johnson. So in theory we could at least (if at all clever), bring back the twins, but also use the extra cap space to add other key free agents around Booker and the twins too.

The biggest issue would then be hitting on our late draft picks and/ or adding key pieces in free agency. Now to be clear, I'm not advocating for this to happen.

And I absolutely believe there will be good to very good offers for KD this summer by teams that barely got eliminated and not blown out in the playoffs telling themselves that KD would be the difference maker for them.

I'm only pointing out the silver lining to a worst case scenario playing out and how we could still leverage it towards something positive possibly?? The very worst case scenario would be getting completely fleeced because Gregory has absolutely no front office/GM experience. And taking hack a totally craptastic offer and he and Ishbia touting it like a huge win!