After finally surviving the Play-In, the Golden State Warriors will get to face the Houston Rockets in a two-seven matchup. The Warriors have lost all three of their previous Play-In games, and finally, they got over the hump. Now, they play a young and up-and-coming team in the Rockets. Will their experience be the deciding factor? Or do the Rockets have a better-rounded team? Here is an interesting subplot, the loser of that series might get the summer prize, Kevin Durant.
Warriors-Rockets Matchup Can Shape Kevin Durant’s Next Move
The Warriors Rockets matchup is interesting in so many ways. However, one underrated aspect of the series is Durant’s future. According to the latest betting odds, the Rockets and the Warriors are the two favorites to land KD in the summer. Will a loss in the first round motivate either one of them to make a harder push?
The Warriors were in talks to trade for Durant at the deadline. But he stopped the Phoenix Suns from trading him to either team, wanting to finish the season in Phoenix. Now, things might be different in the summer. With the Suns failing to make the playoffs, and all the uncertainty, Durant might be looking for a different home.
According to Bovada, a betting website, the Rockets are the favorites for KD’s next team at +120. The Warriors are tied for second on that list at +325, the same odds as the San Antonio Spurs. The Minnesota Timberwolves, the New York Knicks, and the Miami Heat are at +700.
KD, Silver Lining for Losing the First Round?
When the Warriors signed Kevin the first time, they were desperate to get back in the Finals and win it. After a 73-win season, the Warriors lost in the Finals to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. They believed they needed KD, and he believed he would be the final piece to a championship contender. They might find themselves in a similar situation in the summer.
The Rockets, on the other hand, have a young core that is growing faster than anyone envisioned. Last summer, they made a couple of moves to position themselves as possibly the highest bidder for Durant. The Rockets made a deal with the Nets, which gave them a couple of Suns picks. If either team loses in the first round, the pressure for upgrading the roster will grow. And that is where KD comes in. As we know from his first free agency in 2016, he doesn’t want to join a team that doesn’t need him to win a title.
Which Team Can Offer More for Durant?
Both the Warriors and the Rockets can offer plenty of draft picks and young players. It will come down to which team is willing to part with higher-value assets.
For example, if the Rockets put either Tari Eason or Amen Thompson in a deal, they can probably top the Warriors. They also have Cam Whitmore and Jalen Green. Golden State can dangle Jonathan Kuminga(in a sign-and-trade), Moses Moody, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Brandin Podziemski. The Suns will closely monitor how these players perform in the playoffs. A strong outing by either one of them can make a difference in a Durant trade.
In terms of future draft picks, the Rockets can offer the Suns something that the Warriors cannot, control over their draft future. The Rockets control the Suns’ 2025, 27, and 29 draft picks. The Warriors can offer their first-round picks in 2026, 27, 28, 29, and 31. The Suns will likely benefit from a bidding war between Houston and Golden State. The first part of that will come in the playoffs with the Rockets-Warriors matchup.
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