The Official 2025 Offseason Thread Part 1

[BobbieL]

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.

Yup.

Giannis doesn't fix their shooting issues from outside. Which is and was the real reason they lost that game.

Durant will cost less and allow them to keep more stuff player wise.

Agree. The loss by the Rockets showed the shortcomings. Now, I am not sure the Rockets will give up a boatload to get Durant - but something like

I can see Brooks, Jock, Jabari, Whitmore and a FRP -- not sure if this math works but it won't be this major trade for the Suns but it will be good

Spurs also will be a player.

[KLEON]

Any trade with the Rockets better have Jabari Smith coming to PHX

[BobbieL]

Any trade with the Rockets better have Jabari Smith coming to PHX

I think Jabari Smith is reasonable to get in a trade
I just am not sure it will be this A++ trade
The Rockets are trending in the right direction. Why do something stupid like what Ishy did

Hence- why I think if the Rockets trade for Durant - many Suns fans will be underwhelmed

[sunsfan1o1]

Any trade with the Rockets better have Jabari Smith coming to PHX

I think Jabari Smith is reasonable to get in a trade
I just am not sure it will be this A++ trade
The Rockets are trending in the right direction. Why do something stupid like what Ishy did

Hence- why I think if the Rockets trade for Durant - many Suns fans will be underwhelmed

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.

[BobbieL]

Any trade with the Rockets better have Jabari Smith coming to PHX

I think Jabari Smith is reasonable to get in a trade
I just am not sure it will be this A++ trade
The Rockets are trending in the right direction. Why do something stupid like what Ishy did

Hence- why I think if the Rockets trade for Durant - many Suns fans will be underwhelmed

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

[sasquatchBob]

I've been reading Rockets Reddit for like half a year now. 6 months ago they were saying that they dont need KD or Booker. They were saying Green is already on a path to be better than Booker. After G7 against GSW sure things have changed. Consensus is that they need a scorer. We're the most realistic trade partner for them. So yay for us I guess?

Man if Ishbia with his newly appointed yes-man do not capitalize on this (or a deal with another team that could potentially have the same impact), I swear I will lose my ****. Perfect scenario would probably be trading Booker for all of our picks back. This is what we were waiting for. Dont **** it up please...

[sasquatchBob]

Any trade with the Rockets better have Jabari Smith coming to PHX

I agree. I've watched 4 games of that series and Jabari looks like a baller. Not afraid of the moment. And they dont give him any playing time, so it makes a lot of sense

[sasquatchBob]

I think Jabari Smith is reasonable to get in a trade
I just am not sure it will be this A++ trade
The Rockets are trending in the right direction. Why do something stupid like what Ishy did

Hence- why I think if the Rockets trade for Durant - many Suns fans will be underwhelmed

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

[BobbieL]

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

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.

[KdoubleDees23]

Brooks, Jabari, Whitmore and First Round Picks for KD

[King4Day]

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

Yep. Reports say he's untouchable.

IMO, if I'm the Rockets, the only way I'm giving up Amen is if it's in a deal for Giannis. That's it. Not for Booker, and certainly not for KD

[Calvin Klein]

Not nearly long enough.. but certainly does ignore the ‘Suns not trading Booker mantra’… so there is that.

This AI shttt will eventually infect this site. (I suspect already has) I would express caution in its usage

it's all over social media. It was **** before but now it's completely disgusting. Youtube as well. Videos, music, etc...

I think this site is mostly free of that, or at least I havent noticed it besides this type of tongue in cheek posts.

[Calvin Klein]

I've been reading Rockets Reddit for like half a year now. 6 months ago they were saying that they dont need KD or Booker. They were saying Green is already on a path to be better than Booker. After G7 against GSW sure things have changed. Consensus is that they need a scorer. We're the most realistic trade partner for them. So yay for us I guess?

Man if Ishbia with his newly appointed yes-man do not capitalize on this (or a deal with another team that could potentially have the same impact), I swear I will lose my ****. Perfect scenario would probably be trading Booker for all of our picks back. This is what we were waiting for. Dont **** it up please...

Cannot trust reddit. Suns reddit is full of Ishbia fanboys.

[BobbieL]

I've been reading Rockets Reddit for like half a year now. 6 months ago they were saying that they dont need KD or Booker. They were saying Green is already on a path to be better than Booker. After G7 against GSW sure things have changed. Consensus is that they need a scorer. We're the most realistic trade partner for them. So yay for us I guess?

Man if Ishbia with his newly appointed yes-man do not capitalize on this (or a deal with another team that could potentially have the same impact), I swear I will lose my ****. Perfect scenario would probably be trading Booker for all of our picks back. This is what we were waiting for. Dont **** it up please...

Cannot trust reddit. Suns reddit is full of Ishbia fanboys.

So the people on Suns Reddit that like Ishbia like him solely for the fact that "he spent money and tried" to win - is that it?

That ship sailed for me -- its about W's and L's. Granted, I never wanted Durant so I am biased against the guy

[Slim Charless]

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

Yep. Reports say he's untouchable.

IMO, if I'm the Rockets, the only way I'm giving up Amen is if it's in a deal for Giannis. That's it. Not for Booker, and certainly not for KD

That's the last key for us to get a KD haul**

We need Denver to somehow upset OKC. Then OKC will panic and trade for Giannis....which in turn raises the stakes for Houston.

I think OKC can easily do a Chet/Caruso/Cason Wallace deal plus picks for him.

That happens, Houston will HAVE to make a deal. With us.

[thamadkant]

Any trade with the Rockets better have Jabari Smith coming to PHX

I think Jabari Smith is reasonable to get in a trade
I just am not sure it will be this A++ trade
The Rockets are trending in the right direction. Why do something stupid like what Ishy did

Hence- why I think if the Rockets trade for Durant - many Suns fans will be underwhelmed

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.

Knicks are a key bench player away from pushing Celtics.

[Qwigglez]

What about this three team deal:
Suns get -
Nicolas Claxton
Cam Johnson
Suns 2025 1st (9th pick)

Nets get -
Jalen Green
Reed Sheppard
Jock Landale

Rockets get -
Kevin Durant

Suns would have:
Booker
Beal
Dunn
Cam Jo
Claxton

Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neal, Nick Richards, Oso, Gil,

along with the 9th pick, 29th pick. Maybe Beal plays better as 2nd option, and overall Suns look a lot more balanced.

I like that.

Got the Bdub stamp of approval.

I think it makes a ton of sense from each team's perspective. Rockets get a scorer to pair up with Sengun and Amen Thompson. Meanwhile, they still keep a ton of core players, so they aren't top-heavy and more balanced. Sure, they lose Sheppard, but he's only shown flashes of potential, and he might not develop fully being behind the other Rockets players. Rockets still have a ton of fuel if they want to make other trades. I think keeping Brooks is actually beneficial for them for their defensive identity, along with keeping Steven Adams.

Nets get to bottom out and retool around their young players in Cam Thomas, Clowney, Sheppard, Green, Sharpe.

I don't think Cam Johnson is overrated at all. He's a perfect 3rd, or 4th option. Claxton is probably an average center, and his stats have regressed the last two seasons, but I think he'd be a better starting center than Nick Richards. Suns have to keep the 2 picks though and ideally have two more young players (along with Dunn and Oso). The growth of the team really depends on the young players being able to exceed expectations.

[BobbieL]

0% chance Rockets are giving Amen in any trade

Yep. Reports say he's untouchable.

IMO, if I'm the Rockets, the only way I'm giving up Amen is if it's in a deal for Giannis. That's it. Not for Booker, and certainly not for KD

That's the last key for us to get a KD haul**

We need Denver to somehow upset OKC. Then OKC will panic and trade for Giannis....which in turn raises the stakes for Houston.

I think OKC can easily do a Chet/Caruso/Cason Wallace deal plus picks for him.

That happens, Houston will HAVE to make a deal. With us.

Presti hasn't panicked yet - he has a vision
Doesn't mean Presti won't make a trade but my guess it wouldn't be for Durant

[BobbieL]

What about this three team deal:
Suns get -
Nicolas Claxton
Cam Johnson
Suns 2025 1st (9th pick)

Nets get -
Jalen Green
Reed Sheppard
Jock Landale

Rockets get -
Kevin Durant

Suns would have:
Booker
Beal
Dunn
Cam Jo
Claxton

Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neal, Nick Richards, Oso, Gil,

along with the 9th pick, 29th pick. Maybe Beal plays better as 2nd option, and overall Suns look a lot more balanced.

I like that.

Got the Bdub stamp of approval.

I think it makes a ton of sense from each team's perspective. Rockets get a scorer to pair up with Sengun and Amen Thompson. Meanwhile, they still keep a ton of core players, so they aren't top-heavy and more balanced. Sure, they lose Sheppard, but he's only shown flashes of potential, and he might not develop fully being behind the other Rockets players. Rockets still have a ton of fuel if they want to make other trades. I think keeping Brooks is actually beneficial for them for their defensive identity, along with keeping Steven Adams.

Nets get to bottom out and retool around their young players in Cam Thomas, Clowney, Sheppard, Green, Sharpe.

I don't think Cam Johnson is overrated at all. He's a perfect 3rd, or 4th option. Claxton is probably an average center, and his stats have regressed the last two seasons, but I think he'd be a better starting center than Nick Richards. Suns have to keep the 2 picks though and ideally have two more young players (along with Dunn and Oso). The growth of the team really depends on the young players being able to exceed expectations.

My concern with your trade - and I agree, it is a good one - but does it move the needle enough for Ishbia to show some patience.

I just have a feeling he would want more "star power" and not building a roster around Booker. As there is a model how to build around Booker but I can see Ishbia wanting a quicker fix. But I think you have given the Suns a pretty solid core to start

I still try to move Allen and O"neale for expirings in 2027 to get on the same timeline as Beal

I do think Beal and even Booker, play better with Durant gone.,

[Slim Charless]

Yep. Reports say he's untouchable.

IMO, if I'm the Rockets, the only way I'm giving up Amen is if it's in a deal for Giannis. That's it. Not for Booker, and certainly not for KD

That's the last key for us to get a KD haul**

We need Denver to somehow upset OKC. Then OKC will panic and trade for Giannis....which in turn raises the stakes for Houston.

I think OKC can easily do a Chet/Caruso/Cason Wallace deal plus picks for him.

That happens, Houston will HAVE to make a deal. With us.

Presti hasn't panicked yet - he has a vision
Doesn't mean Presti won't make a trade but my guess it wouldn't be for Durant

I didn't say for KD, he trades for Giannis.