Raptors left out as Kevin Durant traded from Suns to Rockets

Article content

Kevin Durant is on the move again and mercifully, rumours that he’d become a Raptor can officially be put to rest.

Durant was dealt Sunday by the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets, ESPN first reported, though it can’t become official until July 6 due to a contractual issue with incoming Phoenix guard Jalen Green (who also might be re-routed since the Suns already have Devin Booker and Bradley Beal needing guard minutes).

While various teams had been pursuing the all-time great scoring forward, the offers had been underwhelming, which is partly why the Raptors became a buzzy potential landing spot in recent weeks as the Suns tried to get the price up. While Toronto had some interest, it wasn’t to the extent Phoenix had hoped to portray.

In the end, the 15-time all-star, who turns 37 in September but still averaged 26.6 points a game last season for the disappointing Suns, didn’t go for all that much. Green, taken second overall in 2021, averaged 21 points, but has poor shot selection and a lot of growing still to do. He has so far been eclipsed by draft mates like Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, Franz Wagner, former teammate Alperen Sengun and Trey Murphy III. Phoenix also receives the 10th pick of Wednesday’s draft (which funnily enough belonged to Phoenix originally before it was dealt to Brooklyn as part of the trade that brought Durant to the Valley of the Sun, before the Nets traded it on to the Rockets), Canadian national team starter Dillon Brooks and five second round picks.

Despite Durant’s age and injury history, the deal seems like a no-brainer for Houston, which finished second in the tough Western Conference last season and is coached by Durant’s favourite, Ime Udoka. Durant had hoped to return to Texas. He burst onto the scene with one of the greatest freshman seasons in NCAA history back in 2006-07 while playing in Austin. The Rockets didn’t have to surrender promising big man Jabari Smith Jr. or Reed Sheppard, the second pick last year, or even intriguing guard Cam Whitmore.

With Durant and Sengun, they have a pair of spectacular offensive talents, a young defensive dynamo in Amen Thompson, Smith and Tari Eason helping up front and veteran former Raptor Fred VanVleet at point guard.

Phoenix failed to get a high-end prospect or top of the lottery draft pick and still has a gigantic hole at centre and no traditional starting level point guard while retaining all kinds of salary cap issues.

The Miami Heat also tried to get Durant, but long-time NBA insider Marc Stein reported the team was unwilling to trade “standout rookie (centre) Kel’el Ware in their offers.”

As for the Raptors, with Durant no longer a possibility, no matter how slim the odds of landing the Slim Reaper were in the first place, and Giannis Antetokounmpo seemingly staying put in Milwaukee, at least for now, it’s unclear what comes next.

Toronto remains eager to make a big move, but one might not be out there.

Starting centre Jakob Poeltl becomes eligible for a contract extension on July 6. As it stands now, Poeltl can become an unrestricted free agent after next season if he opts out of the final year of his deal (which will happen as long as he doesn’t get injured since it’s under market value). Poeltl will likely command a significant raise from the $20 million U.S. annual value to something more like $30 million per season.

The team is slated to draft ninth on Wednesday after falling two spots in the lottery last month.

Assistant general manager Dan Tolzman is scheduled to speak with the media about the upcoming draft on Monday.

@WolstatSun