Even though Kevin Durant reportedly wants a trade away from the Nets, it’s hard to envision a 34-year-old NBA superstar accepting a trade to the rebuilding Rockets. Typically, elite veterans want to maximize their short-term title odds. Yet, there’s a strong case to be made that Houston has exactly what Brooklyn could use most in this difficult situation.
Because it’s effectively impossible to replace the short-term basketball value of Durant, the process for the Nets to eventually form their next title contender would ideally involve young reinforcements added from the draft. That’s why the NBA’s worst teams are positioned high in the order. It’s a means to provide hope for struggling franchises and parity.
The Nets, of course, aren’t in position to reap those usual benefits, since Houston owns control of their first-round draft assets through 2029 as part of the James Harden trade from January 2021. But what if that somehow changed, and Brooklyn could rebuild through the draft?
