When LSU forward Tari Eason was picked by the Rockets at No. 17 overall in the 2022 NBA draft, he became the first draft asset from the blockbuster James Harden trade (the January 2021 version involving Brooklyn and Houston) to be officially realized. But he’s far from the last.
Because of that Harden deal, the Rockets currently have a first-round pick headed their way from the Nets or a right to swap first-round picks with Brooklyn in each of the next five drafts, through 2027. All are unprotected, meaning that even if one of those Brooklyn picks ended up at No. 1 in the first-round order, it would still go to Houston.
Thus, what’s bad for Brooklyn’s long-term outlook is good for Houston, and vice versa. So, in the aftermath of Harden’s forced departure earlier this year and constant uncertainty surrounding Kyrie Irving, we finally arrived at the biggest bombshell there could possibly be.
Kevin Durant, arguably the NBA’s best player (when healthy) for many years, reportedly wants a trade out of Brooklyn.
Granted, with four years left on his contract, it’s not as if Durant can leave the Nets without compensation. Technically, Brooklyn doesn’t have to trade him, at all. But if there’s one thing NBA fans have learned in recent years, it’s that superstar players carry significant leverage and tend to get what they want. Moreover, it’s almost impossible to get fair value in a trade, since superstars like Durant are such a precious commodity.
As a result, while the particulars still need to be ironed out, the bottom line is that it should definitely be a net positive for the Rockets and the potential outlook of those first-round draft assets from Brooklyn.
Here’s a look at how fans and media members following the Rockets responded to Thursday’s Durant bombshell in real-time.
