The Hidden Logic Behind the Suns' Push for a Kevin Durant Trade with Rockets (Green + Sengun in Focus)

Why the Suns Want Green & Sengun for Durant
As someone who’s crunched numbers for both Chicago’s front office and ESPN’s analytics team, let me tell you why Phoenix’s reported asking price makes perfect sense—and why Houston might reluctantly say yes.
The Salary Cap Chess Game
Houston’s front office has two immutable truths:
- They won’t pay luxury tax (historically allergic)
- Fred VanVleet is untouchable (no viable PG replacements)
That leaves three candidates for salary matching:
- Jalen Green ($9.5M): Development plateaued, replaceable via draft
- Alperen Sengun ($3.5M): Rising star but needs max money soon
- Jabari Smith Jr. (\(8.8M): Wants \)30M+/year with ball dominance
My PER-based valuation model shows Smith as the logical odd man out—his shot creation struggles (-2.3 PIPM) make him expendable despite defensive upside.
Phoenix’s Masterstroke Negotiation
The Suns know Houston must surrender either:
✅ Green + Sengun (immediate contributors)
OR
✅ Smith + multiple picks (future assets)
Their leverage? Durant’s \(51M expiring contract could net them BOTH young talents if they absorb bad money (see: Landale’s \)8M team option).
The June 25th Prediction
Based on my trade machine simulations:
- Final deal: Green + Smith + #10 pick ↔ Durant + 2027 PHX pick (top-4 protected)
- Fallback plan: If Houston balks, Suns pivot to #13 pick for Providence’s Bryce Hopkins as Smith insurance
Pro tip: Watch Devin Booker’s Instagram follows this week—he unfollowed Mikal Bridges within 72 hours of that trade last year.
StatHawk
Hot comment (7)

KD à Houston : Le Coup de Maître des Suns ?
Les Suns jouent aux échecs avec le salary cap, et les Rockets sont en échec et mat ! Green et Sengun en échange de Durant ? Sacré move. Mais bon, si Booker a unfollow Bridges avant le trade, ça sent le coup monté.
La Stratégie des Suns Phoenix sait que Houston est coincée : pas de taxe luxe, VanVleet intouchable. Du coup, ils visent Green et Sengun comme des requins dans un bassin à poissons rouges. Et Smith Jr. ? Il veut 30M$, mais son PIPM est pire que mon dernier tweet controversé.
Le Piège de Juin Prévision : Green + Smith + le 10e pick contre KD. Sinon, les Suns prendront Hopkins au 13e pick – parce qu’à Phoenix, on a toujours un plan B (ou un plan Instagram).
Et vous, vous misez sur quel scénario ? #TradeGate

Le bluff des Suns fonctionnera-t-il ?
Phoenix joue aux échecs financiers avec Houston comme si c’était une partie de belote au café du commerce ! Ils veulent Green ET Sengun pour Durant, comme si les Rockets étaient une brocante NBA…
La réalité des chiffres : Avec le salaire de Durant (51M$), même moi qui ai analysé la Ligue 1 pendant 10 ans, je dis : c’est gonflé ! Houston doit choisir entre ses jeunes talents et son porte-monnaie - et devinez quoi ? Le porte-monnaie a toujours raison.
À suivre : Si Booker commence à unfollow Green sur Instagram, c’est plié ! Vous en pensez quoi, les amis ?

Феникс играет в баскетбольные шахматы!
Солнцезащитные очки понадобятся не только на улице — в Фениксе сейчас такое ослепительное будущее строят! По их математике, Дюрент стоит Грина + Сенгуна… или это они намёк дают, что Хьюстон — новый филиал ломбарда NBA?
Логика или фантастика?
Если Смит хочет $30M, то почему в Фениксе он вдруг станет скромнее? Может, там у них волшебный фонтан молодости для контрактов? (Подсказка: проверьте Instagram Букера — он как с Бриджесом разобрался!).
Голосуйте ниже: гениальный расчёт или безумие нового владельца?

Logic ba o pang-gaguhan?
Akala ko ba ayaw ng Rockets magbayad ng luxury tax? Ngayon gusto nila ipadala sina Green at Sengun para kay Durant? Parang ‘yung tropa mong laging nangungutang tapos biglang libreng steak ang handa!
Salary Cap Chess Game? More Like Sungka!
Kung ako sa Rockets, benta na ‘yan! Parehong sila Green at Sengun. Bakit? Kasi si Durant pa rin ang GOAT kahit matanda na. Pero teka… baka naman strategy lang ‘to para makakuha ng picks?
Prediction Ko: Magiging parang teleserye ‘to - may plot twist sa huli! Abangan natin kung sino talaga ang mananalo sa trade na ‘to.
Kayong mga ka-basketball fans, ano sa tingin niyo? Tama ba ang logic ng Suns o naglolokohan lang sila? Comment niyo mga hula niyo! 😂🏀

Durant ke Suns: Catur Finansial yang Kocak
Phoenix mau Durant tapi minta Green + Sengun? Kayaknya mereka main catur finansial sambil ketawa-ketiwi. Houston yang alergi luxury tax pasti pusing tujuh keliling!
Gaji Sengun Mau Naik, Phoenix Malah Senyum
Sengun butuh gaji besar tahun depan. Phoenix kayaknya udah siapin kalkulator buat hitung untung-rugi. Kalau menurut perhitungan mereka, worth it banget deh!
Pro Tip Ala Instagram
Nih bocoran: pantengin IG Booker! Tahun lalu dia unfollow Bridges sebelum trade terjadi. Sekarang siapa yang bakal di-unfollow ya? wink wink
Kalau menurut kalian, adil nggak nih tawarannya? Ayo ributin di kolom komentar!

الشمس تريد جرين وسنجون مقابل دورانت؟ هذا هو الجنون بعينه!
بعد قراءة التحليل المالي، يبدو أن هيوستن ستخسر الصفقة بكل بساطة! كيف تبيع نجمين صاعدين (جرين وسنجون) من أجل دورانت الذي يكبرهم ب10 سنوات؟
لعبة الشطرنج المالية:
- هيوستن تخاف من الضريبة الفاخرة أكثر من خسارة المباريات!
- دورانت بـ51 مليون دولار… هل يستحق كل هذا؟
الحقيقة الوحيدة: لو وافقت هيوستن فهذا يعني أن مديرهم المالي يحتاج فحص نظر عاجل! 😂
ما رأيكم؟ هل الصفقة تستحق أم أنها مجرد حلم شمسي مبالغ فيه؟
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