Value is lower than expected KD trading outlook: Rockets will not leave Shin Kyung Amen, Spurs will not be the second pick

. This deal is not only a plan for championship competition, but also a strategic move to appease the leading stars. Of course, the improvement in the competitive level is also significant: Randall performed poorly against the Thunder, and defeating the Thunder was the goal of the Timberwolves. Team President Tim Connelly has never been afraid of taking risks. As long as he is determined that Durant can bring a chance to win against the Thunder, he will definitely bet decisively at a reasonable price.

Miami Heat

Suns get: Andrew Wiggins, Robert Williams III, Nikola Jovic, 2030 unprotected first-round pick, 2032 unprotected first-round pick, Kevin Durant, Trail Blazers get: Duncan Robinson,

The Heat can provide the lowest player value among these teams, unless they are willing to send out Crair Weill (basically impossible), Taylor Hero (almost certainly not) or Adebayo (trading him is equivalent to betraying the Heat culture), so the Heat have to use more first-round picks to make up for the trading value. In this deal, we allowed the Heat to retain the No. 20 pick this year to maintain the depth of the lineup, and in exchange, the Suns will receive unprotected first-round picks in 2030 and 2032. By then Durant has retired and Adebayo is approaching or past his peak period.

These picks will become valuable trading chips, and according to Suns boss Matt Ishbiya's past operating style, he is likely to trade these chips for immediate combat power. Wiggins has been in a state of ups and downs due to personal problems in recent years, but he is only 30 years old and is still a high-quality 3D forward who can partner with Booker. Rowe is the center of the Suns' protection in this trade. The Trail Blazers' current record is beyond the range of bad play and more shooters are needed to train Scudt Henderson and Shetton Sharp. Duncan Robinson perfectly adapts to needs, and can solve the problem of redundancy of the Trail Blazers in the center. Jovic may serve as a substitute for a long time, and there will never be many big men who can project and support them.

For the Heat, the core question is whether Durant is worthy of their bet on the future. Considering the abandonment of this deal and the first round picks given to the Hornets, the Heat will lose the capital to pursue superstar trades in the next few years, in addition to existing young players and rookies developed by accident (this is not an accident considering the Heat's training system).

So is Durant worth it? The answer is yes, as long as Crael Were can grow as expected. It might be another matter if the Celtics are still in their peak period, but the current Eastern Throne is waiting for a vain position (apologize to the Pacers) and there is no absolute ruler. The core lineup composed of Herro, Durant and Adebayo does have a chance to win. If Weil makes a leap or David Mitchell's shooting ability this season continues, the Heat's chances of winning will be greatly improved, not to mention that they have always been good at digging deep rotations.

If the Heat really had a chance to gain a younger superstar, it would have taken action long ago. Their asset reserves are already limited, and the chips they just exchanged for Butler are mediocre. This may be Pat Riley (the 80-year-old Heat leader must weigh)’s last chance to hit the finals in the coming years, and despite the risks Durant has, the Heat have no choice.

This deal is directly related to the power vacuum in the East (Tatum is likely to miss next season). If the Celtics still maintain their dominant strength, it might be unreasonable for the Pistons to strengthen so radically. But now the lineup built by Cningham, Durant and top defense is enough to reach the Finals, and what the Pistons lack most at this stage is the second scoring point (in the first round against the Knicks, Cningham only averaged more than 16 points per game).

The price of this deal is both high and reasonable: giving up Aiwei, who is in the outbreak, is indeed painful (his breakthrough is still sharp before the season's reimbursement, and his shooting has also improved significantly). But it is worth noting that the Pistons' performance has improved after he was injured (although it was not his fault). Ivy is eligible to renew his contract this summer and will inevitably ask for a high salary. If management is worried that his functions with Cningham will overlap, it is a good opportunity to realize it now. Stewart is perfectly adapted to the Suns. He is a defensive insider with a tough style, rebounding and three-point ability (at least this performance before this season). Both young players can form long-term partners with Booker.

From the perspective of Pistons' asset management, the key is that their future first-round picks are not bound. Although the first round of picks for 2026 needs to be given, all first round picks can still be traded freely. When Cningham really needs help to win the championship, the Pistons management can operate more accurately. Osal Thompson and Jaylen Durham remained on the team, the core framework of the lineup was intact and the draft pick reserve was ready to be available.

To some extent, this is similar to the Pacers' strategy of trading Siakam (albeit at a higher cost): betting that young point guards already have the ability to fight immediately, and the trading structure does not hinder future operations. The Pacers' draft pick reserves will return to balance after the end of next season, and the next superstar trade can be started at any time. The Pistons' abacus is exactly this: first introduce Durant to attack for 1-2 years, and then use the draft pick to flexibly adjust the direction. Siakam's contract period is certainly longer, and he is six years older than Halliburton, and the timeline is not exactly matched.

The team that ended up with Durant could be the Pistons, the Magic, the Heat, or the team we haven't noticed yet. But the Eastern mid-range team will definitely take advantage of the chaos to fight for the championship. Even if measured by the Eastern standards, this power vacuum is rare.

Original text: SamQuinn

Compiled by: Li Taibai