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The Houston Rockets have reportedly had long-standing trade interest in Suns star Devin Booker, and they hold numerous first-round assets from Phoenix in future draft cycles.
Thus, with the Suns (30-36) mired in mediocrity, it should come as no surprise that Houston seemingly inquired again about Booker at February's in-season trade deadline for the 2024-25 campaign.
But at least as of now, the Suns and the four-time NBA All-Star still aren't interested in discussing such an arrangement. Per Tim MacMahon of ESPN:
Elsewhere in the story, MacMahon reports that Houston did discuss the framework of a trade involving 36-year-old Kevin Durant. However, he cites sources from the Rockets as saying those discussions were initiated by the Suns. Durant ultimately stayed with Phoenix through the in-season deadline and is reportedly likely to be traded in the offseason.
Because of Durant's advanced age, relative to Booker, Houston likely wouldn't bid anywhere near as aggressively due to a reduced time window alongside its "young core" of prospects like Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., and Tari Eason — all 23 or younger.
Reading between the lines, it seems as if the standoff is this: The Suns would understandably like to have some or all of their future draft equity back, since the current setup makes it harder for them to retool and be compensated for any on-court struggles (via high first-round selections). However, they would prefer surrendering Durant and not Booker to make that happen.
Conversely, the Rockets are much willing to give up some or all of that draft equity for Booker, rather than Durant. But to this point, neither the Suns nor Booker has been willing to explore that.
So, if Houston (41-25, No. 5 in Western Conference standings) goes out early in the 2025 playoffs, would the Rockets soften their position by the offseason and explore the short-term upside of a Durant deal? Would more losses and perhaps missing the playoffs and play-in tournament altogether prompt the Suns and/or Booker soften their stance? Or, will all parties stay the course, at least for the time being?
From the perspective of the Rockets, there is some merit to simply keeping those first-round picks and using those eventual selections to fill out the roster. After all, those picks in the 2027 and 2029 draft cycles will come at a time in which Houston's current young core will likely be much more expensive — since they will have migrated from their relatively inexpensive, rookie-scale deals to the significant raises that usually accompany second contracts.
Under the NBA's new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), production from rookie-scale contracts could soon be more important, since there are more team-building restrictions on expensive, veteran-laden clubs.
Time will tell as to which direction the sides choose, but it's clear that Houston holds at least some underlying interest in Booker, so a deal shouldn't ever be ruled out. A 6-foot-6 shooting guard, Booker is averaging 25.9 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game this season.
Aside from future Suns draft equity, it hasn't been reported what Houston would be willing to offer aming players to get a Booker deal done. Booker is owed over $50 million in future seasons, so the Rockets would need to send out something in that ballpark from their current payroll to make a deal work under the NBA's salary matching rules for trades.
Both Phoenix and Houston are likely to operate above the league's salary cap in future years, so the matching rules should be in play.
More: February 2025 trade deadline update: Rockets’ NBA draft assets, protections through 2031
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Report: Houston still showing trade interest in Suns star Devin Booker
Continue reading...
Thus, with the Suns (30-36) mired in mediocrity, it should come as no surprise that Houston seemingly inquired again about Booker at February's in-season trade deadline for the 2024-25 campaign.
But at least as of now, the Suns and the four-time NBA All-Star still aren't interested in discussing such an arrangement. Per Tim MacMahon of ESPN:
Elsewhere in the story, MacMahon reports that Houston did discuss the framework of a trade involving 36-year-old Kevin Durant. However, he cites sources from the Rockets as saying those discussions were initiated by the Suns. Durant ultimately stayed with Phoenix through the in-season deadline and is reportedly likely to be traded in the offseason.
Because of Durant's advanced age, relative to Booker, Houston likely wouldn't bid anywhere near as aggressively due to a reduced time window alongside its "young core" of prospects like Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., and Tari Eason — all 23 or younger.
Reading between the lines, it seems as if the standoff is this: The Suns would understandably like to have some or all of their future draft equity back, since the current setup makes it harder for them to retool and be compensated for any on-court struggles (via high first-round selections). However, they would prefer surrendering Durant and not Booker to make that happen.
Conversely, the Rockets are much willing to give up some or all of that draft equity for Booker, rather than Durant. But to this point, neither the Suns nor Booker has been willing to explore that.
So, if Houston (41-25, No. 5 in Western Conference standings) goes out early in the 2025 playoffs, would the Rockets soften their position by the offseason and explore the short-term upside of a Durant deal? Would more losses and perhaps missing the playoffs and play-in tournament altogether prompt the Suns and/or Booker soften their stance? Or, will all parties stay the course, at least for the time being?
From the perspective of the Rockets, there is some merit to simply keeping those first-round picks and using those eventual selections to fill out the roster. After all, those picks in the 2027 and 2029 draft cycles will come at a time in which Houston's current young core will likely be much more expensive — since they will have migrated from their relatively inexpensive, rookie-scale deals to the significant raises that usually accompany second contracts.
Under the NBA's new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), production from rookie-scale contracts could soon be more important, since there are more team-building restrictions on expensive, veteran-laden clubs.
Time will tell as to which direction the sides choose, but it's clear that Houston holds at least some underlying interest in Booker, so a deal shouldn't ever be ruled out. A 6-foot-6 shooting guard, Booker is averaging 25.9 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game this season.
Aside from future Suns draft equity, it hasn't been reported what Houston would be willing to offer aming players to get a Booker deal done. Booker is owed over $50 million in future seasons, so the Rockets would need to send out something in that ballpark from their current payroll to make a deal work under the NBA's salary matching rules for trades.
Both Phoenix and Houston are likely to operate above the league's salary cap in future years, so the matching rules should be in play.
More: February 2025 trade deadline update: Rockets’ NBA draft assets, protections through 2031
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Report: Houston still showing trade interest in Suns star Devin Booker
Continue reading...
