Rockets Cite $66 Million Factor In Not Trading Jalen Green For Devin Booker, Per Reports

Last summer, the Rockets acquired the 2027 first-round pick of the Suns in a trade with the Nets, where they gave up the Nets' 2026 first-round pick. In the same trade, Rockets also acquired 2025 right to swap Houston/OKC's first-round pick for Suns' 2025 first-round pick. With this trade, the NBA media anticipated that the Rockets were planning a major move with the Suns, potentially involving Kevin Durant at the time.

However, since the Durant trade fell through until recent rumors, analysts expected the Rockets might move for the Suns' second-biggest star, Devin Booker. Now, newly emerged reports suggest that the Rockets have moved on from considering a trade for Booker and have not yet given up on Jalen Green despite his struggles in the Playoffs. 

According to the Athletic's Kelly Iko and Sam Amick, "The Rockets have previously held serious interest in the Suns’ Devin Booker, but team sources said that is no longer the case. Not only do team officials still have faith in Jalen Green, who is five years younger than Booker and $66 million cheaper over the next three seasons, but also Booker’s struggles last season shifted the thinking on this front."

With Green's struggles in the Playoffs, NBA fans anticipated that the Rockets would look to move on from him in the summer. However, this report from the Rockets' insider Iko comes as a new lifeline to Green's future with the Rockets.

Why The Rockets Don't Want Devin Booker

Devin Booker has currently finished the first year of his new contract with the Suns. What originally was a four-year $220 million contract for Booker has three years remaining. Therefore, Booker is currently owed approximately $172 million over the next three seasons. In comparison, Jalen Green signed a three-year $106 million contract extension set to begin next summer. This $66 million disparity in getting a player of the same position is one of the reasons why the Rockets have reportedly decided not to pursue a trade for Booker.

Secondly, Devin Booker has also struggled recently. Booker averaged 25.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.1 rebounds in 75 games this season. But his struggles have not been in terms of numbers, but rather his ability to convert his game into winning basketball for his team. The Suns finished the season with a 36-46 record. This was the first time since 2019-20 that the Suns did not qualify for the Playoffs.

Jalen Green, in comparison, averaged 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 82 games this season. However, while Green also struggled during the Playoffs, in the duration of the season, there were many ways in which he improved his game.  He proved that his contributions convert to winning basketball, as he led all scorers on a No. 2 seed team.

With the Draft Lottery scheduled for tonight, the Rockets will likely evaluate a potential trade after getting a true picture of the value of the Suns' 2025 first-round pick. If the Rockets land a Top-5 pick and can draft a player like Dylan Harper, they would no longer require any depth in the guard positions. Therefore, we anticipate that the Rockets will make any moves after the Draft Lottery night only.