The Houston Rockets hoped that adding Kevin Durant to the mix would elevate their young roster’s ceiling and competitiveness.
Instead, they won as many regular-season games as the season before and couldn’t get past the injury-riddled Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.
Kevin Durant was tangled up in yet another burner account scandal, reportedly caught criticizing his teammates on anonymous accounts on X and Instagram.
That prompted some speculation about his future in Houston, and the Detroit Pistons have tried to get him since. The Rockets don’t seem interested in a trade right now, but NBA insider Brett Siegel revealed the Pistons haven’t given up.
The Detroit Pistons could still trade for Kevin Durant
“This offseason, the Rockets have refuted interest from teams inquiring about Durant’s availability, specifically from the Detroit Pistons,” Siegel wrote. “Detroit would loom large as a suitor for Durant if he were to ever want out of Houston, given his strong relationship with All-Star guard Cade Cunningham.”
The Pistons added John Collins to the mix this offseason, with Tobias Harris leaving for the San Antonio Spurs.
Even so, they would definitely welcome Durant’s addition and three-level scoring to the mix.
The Pistons were the team to beat in the Eastern Conference last season, but they’re still young and unproven, so they might need a veteran to help them push through.
Given how Durant has dealt with his career and how he’s burnt bridges with every organization, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him request a trade if things get tough in Houston.
Of course, adding him to any team comes with plenty of risks and locker room drama. But from a basketball standpoint, he’d be a perfect fit for J.B. Bickerstaff’s team.