Jalen Green Reportedly Wants to Stay with Rockets amid Kevin Durant Trade Rumors
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green "wants to stay" with the organization and avoid a potential trade, according to Sam Amick, Jon Krawczysnki and Kelly Iko of The Athletic.
The Rockets and Phoenix Suns have been in contact for "more than a year" regarding a trade for Kevin Durant, with the Suns coveting "multiple young talents" such as Green and center Alperen Şengün at "one point" in negotiations (via Amick, Krawczynski and Iko).
ESPN's Shams Charania reported Saturday that the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Houston are Durant's "preferred destinations" in a swap.
Green, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, served as the leading scorer on a Rockets team that earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference by finishing with a 52-30 record during the 2024-25 season.
He averaged 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and a career-high 35.4 percent from behind the arc throughout the regular season.
Green struggled mightily during Houston's seven-game defeat at the hands of the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, though. He recorded a mere 13.3 points and 2.9 assists per game on 37.2/29.5/66.7 shooting splits during the postseason.
While Green reportedly wants to avoid being involved in a possible trade package, Phoenix may be interested in a different member of Houston's young core.
Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr.'s name has "come up pertaining to the Suns’ interest," per Amick, Krawczynski and Iko.
Smith being included in a deal might allow Houston to hold onto Green, who just signed a three-year extension worth $106 million with the team in Oct. 2024.
