The Houston Rockets didn’t have the season they wanted last year after acquiring Kevin Durant in an offseason trade. There were several reasons why things didn’t go as planned.
Injuries were the main reason the team struggled to get going. Two veterans went down with injuries early in the season, and their absences proved costly.
“Interviews with team sources and those with knowledge of the team’s operations reveal that the VanVleet injury, and the season-ending ankle injury to Steven Adams later on, impacted the team in ways that extended off the floor. Beyond the team’s glaring lack of playmaking, their absences created a massive leadership void that Durant and the team struggled to fill,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon wrote.
This summer, trade discussions took place involving Houston, and Kevin Durant wasn’t untouchable.
“Whether or not the Rockets look to continue their partnership with Durant is the big question at large, especially since they don’t view him as an “untouchable” talent in trade talks on their roster. Houston viewed the opportunity to acquire Durant as a way to upgrade from Jalen Green and bridge the gaps in their lineup to contend in the West, but by no means was this addition viewed as a long-term commitment,” NBA insider Brett Siegel wrote.
Sports Illustrated’s Eric Jay Santos believes Houston could trade Durant to the New York Knicks for OG Anunoby, Pacome Dadiet, and draft capital.
“One potential trade idea is to deal Durant to the New York Knicks for OG Anunoby, Pacome Dadiet, and draft compensation. The intent would be to have the 29-year-old Anunoby presumably play his prime years alongside Houston’s developing core, while keeping Durant with a championship-contending team in the Eastern Conference,” Santos wrote.
Moving Durant would be a significant loss for Houston, but acquiring Anunoby would give the Rockets a player who could remain part of their core for years to come. The two-time NBA champion is an elite defender with a track record of winning.
Anunoby is currently under contract with the Knicks on a $212 million deal. The proposed trade could also give New York a chance to repeat as champions this season. However, Durant would likely need a new contract with the Knicks, while Anunoby is under contract for at least the next two seasons.
