Report: Rockets Won’t Trade Alperen Sengun Or Amen Thompson To Get Suns’ Kevin Durant

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Houston Rockets won’t trade Alperen Sengun or Amen Thompson to get Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns. 

The Rockets are pursuing Durant, who is interested in playing for the Rockets. 

“The Rockets, however, have been unwilling to part with 22-year-old First Team All-Defensive selection Amen Thompson in trade talks, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote. “It’s believed that Houston would also not want to part with 22-year-old All-Star Alperen Sengun in talks for Durant.”

Sengun made his first All-Star team this season. He averaged 19.1 points and 10.3 rebounds in 76 games while shooting 49.6% from the field. 

Meanwhile, Thompson put up 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in his second season in the NBA. The explosive guard shot 55.7% from the floor. 

The Rockets made the playoffs this year for the first time since 2020. They lost to Durant’s old team, the Golden State Warriors, in the first round in seven games. 

Durant has one year left on his contract. He turns 37 in the fall. 

Houston head coach Ime Udoka coached Durant in 2020-21 when the two were on the Brooklyn Nets. 

“In a potential trade with the Suns for Durant, Houston could include guard Jalen Green and his $33.33 million salary for the 2025-26 season,” Scotto wrote. “With guards Devin Booker and Bradley Beal already on the roster, having failed to trade Beal as the Suns attempted to before the trade deadline, Phoenix has done background on Green to gauge his value around the league in case Green is acquired, and it’s worthwhile to flip him again via trade, league sources told HoopsHype.”

Durant put up 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game for the Suns this season while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line.

A future Hall of Famer, Durant has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Warriors, Nets and Suns. The NBA legend has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists.

Durant won the 2014 MVP Award with the Thunder and back-to-back championships and Finals MVPs with the Warriors in 2017 and 2018. 

A Texas product, Durant is also a four-time scoring champion.