(SportsRadio 610) - The NBA has been waiting with bated breath since Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets.
It's been reported that Durant's preferred destinations, the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat, have been engaged in talks with the Nets, but no deal is imminent. Logistically, a third or fourth team would have help facilitate trade to make all of the salaries work, since neither team has the assets to acquire Durant as it stands.
On Monday, The Athletic's Kelly Iko published an interesting piece diving into how the Houston Rockets could get involved as a third team, provided they get the worthwhile assets in return.
In a nutshell, the Rockets would disperse their first-round picks acquired from Brooklyn in the James Harden trade and throw in their own first-rounder for 2027 for the rights to Suns center Deandre Ayton, who is expected to leave in free agency but ideally through a sign-and-trade.
Or, the Rockets could sent Brooklyn and Phoenix two first-rounders apiece, with Eric Gordon and Kenyon Martin Jr. going to the Suns and Houston landing Ayton and forward Cameron Johnson.
This would be a lot to give up for any player and the major question is whether a move like this would accelerate the Rockets' rebuild, putting them in contention sooner rather than later.
Filling in for Payne and Pendergast, Brandon Scott and Shaun Bijani threw the idea around Tuesday morning.
Listen to the audio player above or click here for the entire segment.
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