Houston Rockets Receive: F Scottie Barnes
Brooklyn Nets Receive: F OG Anunoby, G/F Gary Trent Jr., F Jae’Sean Tate, 2023 First-Round Pick (BKN via HOU), 2023 First-Round Pick (MIL via HOU), 2023 First-Round Pick (TOR), 2024 First-Round Pick (BKN via HOU), 2026 First-Round Pick (BKN via HOU), 2027 First-Round Pick (BKN via HOU), 2028 First-Round Pick (HOU)
Toronto Raptors Receive: F Kevin Durant
On the other hand, if the Brooklyn Nets would prefer a pick-focused package, they should probably call up the Houston Rockets.
Not that the Rockets will be interested in Durant. They won’t be. They’ve been the worst team in the NBA for two years. Even Durant won’t launch the Rockets into contention at this stage in their rebuild.
Still, the Rockets are in a unique position to play the facilitator of a Durant deal. After all, no pick is more valuable than your own pick. Teams can control the value of their own selection to an extent via “tanking” measures. The Rockets just happen to own all of Brooklyn’s first-round picks, whether outright or via swap, until 2027.
This deal has Brooklyn receiving most of the draft capital they sent Houston in the James Harden trade back. The Stepien rule would only disallow Houston from returning the 2025 pick. The Raptors compensate by giving up one pick of their own.
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Granted, the Raptors pay a steep price here. They’re parting with two starting-caliber players and a potential superstar in Scotties Barnes. Having said that, any team expecting to land Durant without paying a steep price needs a reality check. With a core group of Durant, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet, the Raptors could be title favorites in 2022-23.
