Houston, Texas — The NBA is poised for a historic transaction as the Suns and Rockets prepare to finalize a monumental seven-team trade, propelling star Kevin Durant to Houston. Initially slated as a two-team deal less than two weeks ago, this agreement expands to include multiple franchises, marking a significant moment in league history.
The July moratorium is set to lift on Sunday, allowing the Rockets to officially complete the deal. Details surrounding the mega-trade have emerged, indicating that the Hawks, Timberwolves, and Nets will also play crucial roles in these negotiations. Among the various maneuvers, the Rockets are finalizing a sign-and-trade arrangement for Clint Capela, while the Hawks are set to send Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the mix.
Basketball insider Fred Katz has indicated that the Warriors and Lakers are also part of this intricate web of trades. For instance, the 59th overall draft pick, Jahmai Mashack, initially moving from Houston to Phoenix in the framework surrounding Durant, was subsequently rerouted to Golden State, which then sent him to Memphis. Concurrently, the Lakers are anticipated to receive the 36th pick, Adou Thiero, through a series of exchanges involving the Nets, Suns, and Timberwolves.
Furthermore, discussions regarding Dorian Finney-Smith’s four-year, $53 million contract with Houston suggest a potential sign-and-trade from the Lakers. However, reports indicate that Finney-Smith and Alexander-Walker are not presently central to the ongoing negotiations.
As the July 11 deadline approaches, the situation remains fluid. The league has more than 72 hours before the moratorium concludes, providing an opportunity for additional trades to be integrated into this expansive agreement. This flexibility may facilitate smoother processing of trades and contracts that involve multiple teams and players.
While the consolidation of these agreements into a singular transaction may result in minor additional elements like cash or draft rights, the core structure of the deals will remain intact. This strategic alignment aims to minimize complications for the league, preventing the need to process several separate trades involving overlapping players and picks.
If successfully completed, this trade could set a new NBA benchmark for the most teams involved in a single deal. The current record was established just a year ago when six teams collaborated on a transaction that included notable players like Klay Thompson and Kyle Anderson.
As the countdown to the moratorium’s end continues, fans and analysts alike will be closely watching how this unprecedented arrangement unfolds and whether it opens the door for even broader trading activities in the future.