After the first round crashout, it’s pretty clear what the Houston Rockets need. They have a squad brimming with young, hungry talent. But every squad has to have a proven winner – someone who’s tasted glory, and wants it again just for the sheer feeling. They don’t have that right now. The two most likely in the market are Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant. But a multitude of factors indicate a decision may have been made already.
Don’t get this mistaken – neither will be cheap. There’ll be a lot more than just money and a few out-of-favour players involved. In terms of Giannis – well, who wouldn’t want to have the Greek Freak on their team? And in Houston? They’ll be a problem. But he won’t come cheap. For the Rockets, it’ll hit where it hurts. The Bucks would ideally want someone who could come close to emulating what Giannis has achieved in Milwaukee. The next superstar. In Houston, those superstars come in the form of Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.
They obviously wouldn’t want that. Thompson is a generational talent, while Sengun is far too valuable to Ime Udoka’s tactics. According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, Kevin Durant will be the more ideal option. “Swapping their focus to the Phoenix Suns might be the better call for the Rockets. By parting ways with players like Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, and perhaps even Reed Sheppard (as well as draft picks), the Rockets could largely keep their core intact while adding Durant.”
Feb 23, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) gestures to the referee for a foul call against the Toronto Raptors in the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The good part about your season getting over is the freedom to go to the drawing board. If you crash out in the season? It’s bad. But when you’ve had a promising season like the Rockets, it’s a positive outlook. It’s about how you can make this team better. Unfortunately for the veterans, it’s about looking forward. And that means putting people up on the chopping block. With Houston delaying Fred VanVleet’s team option, you just never know what the future might end up looking like.
Fred VanVleet’s option delay by Rockets could spark a Kevin Durant move
The original deadline for the extension was this Friday, 9th May. The Rockets have chosen to move the deadline up to June 29th, giving “both sides additional time to navigate exercising the option versus completing a longer term deal,” says ESPN’s Shams Charania.
This is a developing story…
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