Shams details why Phoenix went with Houston’s KD trade package over Miami | SportsCenter

Shams details why Phoenix went with Houston’s KD trade package over Miami | SportsCenter

how about an NBA blockbuster today NBA insider Sham Shirano reporting that the Suns are trading 15time all-star Kevin Durant to the Rockets for Jaylen Green Dylan Brooks and the number 10 pick in this year’s draft on Wednesday and five second round picks And for much more on this monster trade the guy who broke the story Sham Shirania joining us now live from OKC So we’ve heard a couple of the teams that were in the KD sweep stakes Why did the Suns go with the Rockets offer Kevin over the last 24 hours Miami and Houston were competing against each other to see who would have the best package for Kevin Durant at the end of the day And what that showed is that at the trade deadline Kevin Durant was blindsided when he was included in in any type of trade talk But now he was in the driver’s seat He had a voice in this Him and his business manager and partner Rich Kimman worked with the Suns on his potential destinations And the Heat made offers but they never included a full package that had Nicola Yoic Haywood Highmith Jame Hakez and the draft assets necessary And they wouldn’t put Khlo Wear in And so from the Rockets perspective they gave up a 23-year-old prolific scoring guard as well as a three and D player that fit the Suns grit and toughness that they want moving forward But make no mistake for the Rockets this is a win now move around the league Everyone knows it This is something that gives them a number one option and allows them to really take a step in the playoffs potentially next season You mentioned win now move for the Rockets This also doesn’t include five first round draft picks or even four first round draft picks that we’ve seen the last couple years with other players who didn’t even make all-star teams Sham Shirania thank you so much l much more on this move Absolutely KD a bit of a mercenary if you will right This will be his fifth different team including his fourth in the last just six years but he’s yet to find the same success that he had in Golden State only played in half of the games with the Nets went through three head coaches in three seasons with the Suns but now finds himself with Eay Udoka in Houston I was actually with uh Houston native Chennum here when we found out he was going there There was a lot of twost stepping in We up we back we in there but the odds just completely jumped They now the Rockets have the second best odds He’s like don’t do too much Let me go there with you because they now have the second shortest odds behind only the Thunder to win the title next year You think that we need to pump the brakes I’m not mad at second shortest I thought they’re like favorites I’m like “Hello there’s a game seven happening today.” Okay period The the the way I take this especially putting my Houston cap on which I always wear wear by the way is that I I’m I don’t mind this move A lot of people are questioning why would you do this Considering that Kevin Durant is 36 turning 37 I’ll tell you why Because five second round picks I’m not too worried One first round pick we see the 10th pick in the 2025 draft Not too worried about that More so this is a guy that fits the need so importantly for the Houston Rockets 51% shooting off the dribble That’s last season the best in the NBA He’s 53% shooting in mid-range which again is best in the NBA If you think about the holes that the Houston Rockets have had they made it all the way to second in the West even though they were 27th in off the dribble jumpers 24th in overall jumpers Do you know what that shot is That is Kevin Durant’s money shot This is a team that’s 21st in offense They need that boost And I think L you said it They needed that number one option Well hello He is that type of guy is a walking 27 points per game that we saw in his tenure for three seasons with the Phoenix Suns Overall I’m looking at this I’m like I’m not mad at it It’s not like it’s a whole bunch of first It’s not like you lost most of your team We kept Amen Thompson We kept Jabari Smith Jr We kept Alfred Shangon And a lot of people are very happy that we kept Reed Shepard as well Houston where Oh I was I thought we I have my solo camera It’s all good We do not have a problem We have no problem We have no problem with this I have no problem at least over here Why is it going to work Cuz you were like “Uh-huh.” when Chana brought it up Well that and listen there there might not be another analyst in this network or anywhere that loves defense as much as I do I love defense I’m going to talk about it first I’m going to talk about it every time Houston hangs their hat on the defensive end but you still need someone that can get a bucket at will and that is Kevin Durant You still need a team even when your team is getting stops left and right And that’s what Houston does They needed someone on the team that opponents fear when he has the ball in his hands and when he is on the perimeter That is Kevin Durant defenses will either flood to him and he can find a cutting Alprin Chenon or cutting Thompson to for a slam dunk his teammates cutting around him right or Kevin Durant can just go get a bucket so his ability to score Chen said it perfectly that brings an entirely new element to this Houston team and Kevin you know what’s kind of funny we were prepping for our show WNBA countdown and we found out this news because we’re interviewing Chelsea Gray who checked her phone and she was like hey Chennet are you okay wellness check I was like what you got Kevin Durant on the I was like what you’re like what well because it’s been a long time going in fact the last player to join the Rockets who averaged 25 points in the prior season Hold on What’s it Tracy McGrady Oh that’s my that was my basketball crush growing up Team I’m outing myself Feeling it Feeling really good Bring in Tim Leggler to get his reaction Tim uh obviously a lot of people blown away about this trade but I want to know the fit The fit that Kevin Durant has with the Rockets right now How do you view it I think it’s a perfect fit I think when you looked at the Houston Rockets this year a number two seed in the West but I don’t think anybody really viewed them as the top threat uh to the Oklahoma City Thunder I think there was a significant gap there And the main reason we didn’t view the Rockets that way they didn’t have an answer in close games they didn’t have that guy that could basically beat any type of defense that’s in front of them a consistent efficient alpha at the top of the food chain on their roster offensively They sort of did it by peace meal Well they’ve checked that box Now Kevin Durant can still do that Incredible run of efficiency he’s had now throughout his career You put him with a great defense an elite coach I think the Houston Rockets now have absolutely helped elevate themselves in the Western Conference where maybe now going into the year we do consider them the top challenger to OKC Stephen A Smith Uh I haven’t been on the socials because I’ve been working but Stephen A I believe these are your first thoughts on national TV It comes across your feed that Kevin Durant is a rocket and you’re thinking what I’m ecstatic I’m ecstatic for the Houston Rockets I’m ecstatic for him because I think he’s back in the championship equation We keep forgetting that because of the lack of success that the Phoenix Suns have enjoyed and he has enjoyed over the last several years It is one of the greatest players to have ever played the game He’s instant offense and in his 30s just like he did in his 20s Still averaging 27 a game Still shooting over 50% from the field Still shooting nearly 40% from three-point range Nearly 90% from the free throw line He is instant offense He’s 7 feet with a 76 wingspan with ball handling skills a mid-range game a three-point shot He can finish in the open court He can do it all And he’s a bonafide number one option So any team would love to have that But if you’re the Houston Rockets you especially were desperate for that because you know that you’re exceptionally well coached You know that you have a lot of good players You have a young star in Aman Thompson who can do some things You got a champion in Fred Van Vleet But what you were lacking was that bonafide number one scoring option that when all things fell apart you can hand them the ball and say “Take me there.” Kevin Durant is that kind of player And the Houston Rockets know it And that’s why they gave up a Jaylen Green and a Dylan Brooks uh captured the number 10 the number 10 overall pick along with five second round picks because this brother is worth it Yeah it’s that simple Yeah and honestly the oddsmakers agree because they have catapulted second shortest odds now just behind the Thunder to win next year’s NBA championship Stephen A is going nowhere because clearly we need your thoughts on game seven tonight from OKC and we’ll get that in just a second with our countdown crew Thanks

Shams Charania joins SportsCenter to detail the trade between the Suns and Rockets that sends Kevin Durant to Houston in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and a package of picks including the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter react to the Rockets now having the second shortest odds to win next year’s NBA title

0:00 Rockets and Heat trade packages
2:09 Are Rockets title contenders?
4:50 Tim Legler reaction
5:54 Stephen A. Smith reaction

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