The Nets and Rockets have officially announced their trade involving a series of future draft assets, with each team issuing a press release to confirm the move. We previously covered the deal within our story on the Mikal Bridges trade between the Nets and Knicks, but here are the full terms of the Brookyn/Houston swap:
Nets acquire:
- Control of their own 2025 first-round pick (negating the Rockets’ right to swap either its own 2025 first-rounder or the Thunder’s 2025 first-rounder for Brooklyn’s pick).
- Their own 2026 first-round pick.
Rockets acquire:
- The right to swap either their own 2025 first-round pick or the Thunder’s 2025 first-round pick for the Suns’ 2025 first-round pick.
- The Suns’ 2027 first-round pick.
- Either the Mavericks’ or the Suns’ 2029 first-round pick (whichever is more favorable).
- The right to swap their own 2029 first-round pick with either the Mavericks’ or the Suns’ 2029 first-round pick (whichever is least favorable).
- Note: Houston now essentially controls the two most favorable of the Mavericks’, Suns’, and Rockets’ 2029 first-rounders, with the Nets retaining control of the least favorable of the three.
The Nets’ motivation for the deal seems clear — their decision to trade Bridges signals that they’re prepared to take a step back in the short term rather than pushing toward contention. Having control of their own first-round picks for 2025 and 2026 will aid their rebuilding process, reducing the need to accelerate that process.
As cap expert Yossi Gozlan notes (via Twitter), Brooklyn will be in position to create more than $60MM in cap room in 2025, so the team will have no shortage of cap flexibility going forward in addition to being flush with future draft assets.
As for the Rockets, a report back in early May suggested they had interest in talking to the Nets about returning some of Brooklyn’s draft assets in exchange for some of those future Suns picks. Houston is pushing its collection of draft assets down the road a little and making a bet against Phoenix’s sustainability as a contender for the next several years.
As Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter links) has reported, the Rockets believe acquiring those future Suns assets puts them in a good position to pursue a star like Kevin Durant or Devin Booker in the event that they submit trade requests, or in the event that Phoenix eventually decides to break up its roster.
As the Nets showed with this deal, if a team pivots to a rebuild, it’s crucial for that team to control its own first-round draft picks — the Rockets now essentially own the Suns’ picks in 2025, 2027, and 2029 and could offer those assets back to Phoenix in any major trade between the two teams.
Still, for the time being at least, the Suns have no interest in considering a trade involving Durant or Booker, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7, who responded to Wojnarowski’s report about Houston’s interest in acquiring Durant by tweeting that there’s “zero chance” that happens. Woj followed up on his initial report by clarifying (via Twitter) that the Rockets won’t necessary wait for a Suns star to become available and will also shop those picks to other teams in an effort to upgrade their roster.
If Houston were to be smart and ahead of the curve they would forget about KD who’s soon turning 36 years old.
You’ve got Sengun, Jalen Green, this years third overall pick and a bunch of really talented wings but still there are question marks over who’s team is this and who they should build around.
To me it’s real easy. It’s Sengun.
He average more points, more rebounds, more assists, more steals and more blocks.
He even took less shots per game, less threes and shot worse from the line than Jalen.
Jalen isn’t a top tier defender, he’s not a good shooter, he’s not much of a playmaker, it’s all just potential. Then you consider the fact he needs a new contract. He’d be a guy I’m looking to move while the value is high.
One move is definitely try make for them is,
Jalen Green, Jock Landale, Tari Eason and pick 3 for Lauri Markeneen and pick 10.
At 10 grab the point guard of the future in Devin Carter or Rob Dillingham. Have that guys sit behind Fred and adjust to the league.
At SG, I’d probably play Amen Thompson with Lauri, Jabari and Sengun. Really big and long line up, good defensively and wins the battle of the boards. Off the bench Carter/Dillingham Whitmore Brooks Green and Adams.
Long term you’d look to replace FVV with a shooter and scorer like Dillingham or Whitmore.
Think you’d be a match up nightmare with Lauri a real difference maker.
Would also be a great deal for Utah.
Keyonte and Jalen as your young guards, Tari Eason, Taylor Hendricks, Walker Kessler and ofcourse the 3rd overall pick. You’d have a solid young core. Have all the other vets up on the trade block. Plus you’ve also got picks 29 and 32.
That’s way too much to give up to move back to 10. Selling too low on Eason that kid has an amazing career to come
Agreed, I wouldn’t go for Lauri for that, it’s too much. Also why try for him when Smith Jr can be a better version who can also defend let alone Tari. I agree Green might be the move though, but it would be better going for a high scoring guard to go with Sengun. For some reason I think Lamelo might be the move high risk high reward.
Swap Eason for Tate then
Like I said Lauri is a bad fit, as was Bridges, Rockets have an abundance of high ceiling wings who could easily surpass his level in Smith, Tari, Cam and even Amen(I prefer him as a wing if he learns to shoot). I’d rather take a swing at Reed at #3, then wait and see if a top guard becomes available down the line this season.
Only move down for additional draft assets and a top 10 picks then take a swing on Topic as he’s another I think is being slept on in this draft because of his injury. Unless an AllNBA star is on offer I don’t like the idea of trading this young core…YET
Senguin is going to be a beast. Dominant. You gave everyone the reasons you do not move him. Build around a Dominant big man with shooters.
No argument my side and Smith was tipped the best shooter in the 22 draft and at times looks the part, while also being a very good 5 defender to make up for Sengun’s lack of D inside. Further confirming Lauri not being a good option.
But he does need either Green to keep up his form and take the step to a reliable high scoring gurad or move him for someone better. This is why I say stand pat, draft Reed and role shooters and see how the season goes.
Rockets have proved to be patient in the rebuilding phase, and it showed great results last year. If they’re looking to go star chasing it may be a good time this year, but for the right person. Their core is 22 and under with exception of FVV and Brooks who aren’t exactly untouchable. So I wouldn’t see them going for a star past/late prime but a younger star to create a longer timeline.
Whatever the thoughts, one thing I am sure on is that Rockets should have no interest in KD. The guy will be 36 before next season and is a huge injury risk. Why would rockets give up value when they’re not a contender and adding a player with maybe 2 good years left would be a terrible move, the risk is higher than the reward. Seems more likely Booker could be a flight risk in Phoenix, if so Rockets would be a big player in any trades with their young players and picks.
2025 draft is suppose to be deep. So it’s a good move. Having their picks for next two yrs. Means they are probably both lottery picks. Next yrs could be top 3-5.
This makes no sense for the Rockets unless they have insider information Suns are collapsing. Brooklyn is going to be terrible. Those picks could be very very high.
The Rockets are essentially getting two picks and two swaps in exchange for one pick and one swap, so the high value of those Nets’ picks is baked in.
I also doubt the Nets would’ve done the Bridges trade without this deal in place, in which case those 2025 and 2026 picks wouldn’t have been quite as valuable (though you could certainly make the case Brooklyn would’ve been bad next year even with Bridges on the roster).
Bingo. It makes perfect sense for Houston to make this deal. It’s complicated and I get many don’t understand it, but it 100% makes sense for the Rockets to do this.
Yeah but it seems like. Tank year now. Dont blame them. I believe in tanking
Does it take inside knowledge to realize two of the Suns three best players are already on the wrong side of 30 and that unprotected picks three and five years from now are probably worth something? Especially considering they”ll be over the second tax apron for each of the next two years and can only sign draft picks (that they don’t have), their own players, and minimum-salary free agents?