Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant is prepared to add an Eastern Conference team to his wishlist if he returns to the trade block. According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, Durant has set his sights on joining two-time All-NBA guard Cade Cunningham at the Detroit Pistons
Siegel also reported that the Pistons had inquired about the two-time Finals MVP as they considered a three-team trade with the Boston Celtics and the Houston Rockets. Such a framework would have sent Jaylen Brown to Houston, Alperen Sengun to Boston and Kevin Durant to Detroit. While the trade never materialized, it became clear that Durant was interested in joining the Pistons because of Cunningham, who will earn $50.1 million next season.
“Two league sources with knowledge of the situation told ClutchPoints that the Pistons were set on figuring out a path to land Durant, but nothing ever materialized in this three-team idea, nor did anything appear possible in brief discussions with only Houston,” Siegel wrote. “Perhaps the greatest detail to emerge from all of these rumors is that Durant has interest in playing alongside Pistons star Cade Cunningham, sources said.”
Durant would be a solid fit alongside Cunningham on the Pistons. He provides them with the secondary scoring option on the perimeter they didn’t have last year, which was one of the key reasons behind their conference semis exit despite being the No. 1 seed in the East.
Durant’s addition would also give Detroit a more talented option at the small forward position. As presently constructed, the Pistons’ starting lineup would include Cunningham at point guard, Duncan Robinson at shooting guard, Ausar Thompson at small forward, John Collins at power forward and Paul Reed at center.
If Kevin Durant were to get traded to Detroit, he would likely replace Robinson, moving Thompson to the shooting guard spot. It would give the Pistons more size, length, scoring and defense on the perimeter.
Rival teams skeptical about Kevin Durant’s Rockets future
Rival teams are reportedly skeptical about Kevin Durant’s future with the Rockets. According to Sunday’s report from Brett Siegel, tensions in Houston’s locker room since February, amid allegations of Durant using a burner account to call out his teammates, could play a role.
“Many around the league are skeptical of the Rockets wanting to keep Durant through the end of his current contract running through the 2027-28 season,” Siegel wrote. “It isn’t a secret to anyone that there were tensions between Durant and the Rockets’ locker room last season after reports of an alleged burner account came to light and frustrations were mounting internally about the team not taking a step forward with the former league MVP at the helm.”
A lot could depend on this season as the Rockets remain in a win-now mode with Kevin Durant as their best player. In his first season, they fell short in the playoffs, losing in the first round to a Luka Doncic-less Los Angeles Lakers. Durant played only one game after dealing with multiple injuries in that series.
If they suffer another early exit, it would not be surprising to see the Rockets eyeing a new franchise player by including Durant in trade talks in the 2027 offseason.
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