NBA Rumors: Rockets 'Hope' They Don't Need to Trade for Star amid Kevin Durant Buzz

The Houston Rockets remain optimistic they already have a true "star" who can anchor a title contender in the years ahead, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

On the newest episode of the Hoop Collective podcast, MacMahon said the front office is closely examining whether "that No. 1 guy that they can build around, the kind of guy you need to be able to contend for a championship" is on the roster already.

"I spent a week in Houston—I'm working on a story along those lines—I can tell you that from Ime Udoka on up to ownership, the hope is that that guy is on the roster," the NBA insider said. "And there's a really high bar as far as if they're gonna package stuff this summer and go after somebody."

MacMahon added that the organization believes "there's maybe four, five guys on that roster" who can meet a star-level threshold.

This aligns with what he and colleague Brian Windhorst reported earlier this season. The Rockets, who sit second in the Western Conference, want to see what a promising young core can achieve together before they seriously entertain a marquee addition.

Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant could be one such target in the offseason. Per MacMahon, the Suns approached Houston with the idea ahead of the 2025 trade deadline. The Rockets, meanwhile, "have repeatedly expressed interest" in Devin Booker, which Suns team governor Mat Ishbia said is a nonstarter.

Phoenix is a bit of a cautionary tale in terms of managing an ascendant franchise with homegrown talent.

The Suns reached the 2021 NBA Finals and then won 64 games in 2021-22 while centered around Booker, Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges. Maybe they had hit their ceiling with that trio, but trading away Ayton and Bridges and pairing Durant and Bradley Beal with Booker certainly hasn't been a championship formula.

You'd expect the Rockets to cash in some of their trade chips down the road. When it's time for general manager Rafael Stone to be more aggressive, he can't afford to miss.