Rockets GM Says Team Has 'Very High Bar' for Blockbuster Trade amid Durant Rumors

Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone suggested Wednesday that if he were to make a blockbuster trade this offseason, it would have to check a lot of boxes for him and the team as a whole.

When asked by ESPN's Tim MacMahon about the possibility of swinging a huge deal, Stone said, "It's a very high bar to do a transaction that changes things."

The Rockets finished as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a 52-30 record this season and earned their first playoff appearance since the 2019-20 campaign.

Most of Houston's top contributors this season are 23 or younger, including Jalen Green, Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Cam Whitmore. That doesn't even include rookie Reed Sheppard, who played a limited role off the bench after the Rockets selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

Houston also got major contributions from veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, but youth ruled the day for the Rockets this season.

While it wouldn't be unreasonable for the Rockets to largely keep the same roster together and expect the young players to progress even more next season, the result of their first-round playoff series could conceivably shape that decision.

The Rockets trail the seventh-seeded Golden State Warriors 3-1 in their series ahead of Wednesday's Game 5.

Golden State is a veteran-laden team led by Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, and the Warriors have thrived in big moments because of that.

Should the Warriors eliminate the Rockets, it may be worth it for Stone to consider a trade for an established veteran superstar. The most obvious target might be Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant.

All signs point toward the Suns rebuilding this offseason after missing the playoffs, and Durant is their biggest trade chip.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported two weeks ago that there is a "level of mutual interest" between Durant and the Rockets, which comes as little surprise.

The Rockets could provide Durant with the chance to compete for another championship, while KD could be the missing piece for Houston since he is one of the greatest scorers in NBA history and a two-time NBA Finals MVP.

Even at the age of 36, Durant is still a highly productive player, as he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season.

To acquire Durant, the Rockets would likely have to part with draft capital and at least one or two of their promising young players. But if they believe they are just one big piece away from a championship, it could be a risk worth taking.