Top Choices for Houston Rockets Star Player Trades Following Their Defeat by the Warriors

The Houston Rockets are bursting with youth and depth, boasting athletic prodigies, defensive versatility, and players with unique offensive skills. However, they're lacking a top-tier scorer, a fact clearly demonstrated during their first-round postseason loss to the Golden State Warriors. With the offseason heating up, it's time for the Rockets' trade rumors to kick into high gear.

This powerhouse team, led by the likes of Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, and Jalen Green, snatched the two-seed during the regular season but tumbled to the seventh seed in the playoffs. Their lack of a reliable, efficient scoring threat was a major factor in their downfall.

Sengun, fresh off making his first All-Star Game in 2025, may excel as a secondary scoring option, given his exceptional passing abilities. VanVleet proved crucial, particularly in long-range shooting, but his lack of size makes him less efficient. Thompson brings freakish athleticism but has limited range, while Green occasionally shines but inconsistently.

With a host of potential stars possibly on the block, the Rockets have an opportunity to reshape their roster this offseason. Rich in draft capital and young assets that could entice other teams to do business, the Rockets are primed for a splashy deal. Check out this gallery for the stellar trade options the Rockets should explore this summer.

1. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns

Proposed Trade: Rockets receive Kevin Durant, Suns receive Fred VanVleet, Cam Whitmore, Aaron Holiday, 2025 first-round pick (via Suns), and 2027 first-round pick (via Suns).

Rationale: As a three-level scorer who consistently scores over 30 points per game, Kevin Durant is the ideal candidate to fill the Rockets' scoring void. The Suns, who possess few draft picks, make for an attractive trading partner for the Rockets.

2. Other Potential Targets:

Though Durant is a standout, the Rockets may also go after other high-scoring stars on the trading block. Their wealth of draft picks and young stars, such as Sengun, could prove valuable in deals for all-star talent. Sengun's adaptability and passing skills could factor prominently in trades for high-scoring stars.

3. Trade Strategy:

Use draft picks and players like Sengun to attract teams seeking to rebuild or in need of additional depth and assets.
Focus on players who consistently deliver high scores and can complement the roster effectively.

In short, the Rockets have the resources to target marquee players like Kevin Durant, and their strategic trade positioning sets them up for significant offseason maneuvers.

The Houston Rockets, with their lack of a top-tier scorer, are considering trades to bolster their roster, with Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns being an ideal candidate for the void.
The proposed trade would involve sending Fred VanVleet, Cam Whitmore, Aaron Holiday, 2025 first-round pick (via Suns), and 2027 first-round pick (via Suns) to the Suns in exchange for Kevin Durant.
Given Durant's consistency in scoring over 30 points per game, he would be an excellent addition to the Rockets, who lacked a reliable scoring threat in their first-round playoffs loss to the Golden State Warriors.
With their wealth of draft picks and young stars, such as Alperen Sengun, the Rockets can also potentially target other high-scoring stars on the trading block.
The Rockets' strategies for trades involve using draft picks and players like Sengun to attract teams seeking to rebuild or in need of additional depth and assets.
In the upcoming offseason, with the right trades, the Rockets aim to secure a high-scoring all-star talent who can complement the current roster and potentially lead them to championship contention in basketball's NBA.