The Phoenix Suns concluded their season with a disappointing loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, leading to significant changes in coaching staff. Frank Vogel has been replaced by Mike Budenholzer, while Suns owner Mat Ishbia believes that despite not having a first-round pick from 2025 to 2030, other NBA GMs envy Phoenix’s roster and overall direction.
On the other hand, the Houston Rockets, whose season ended with the regular season’s conclusion on April 14, may have anticipated Phoenix’s downfall even before their own season ended or the trade deadline on Feb. 8. Reports suggest that Rockets’ GM Rafael Stone attempted a unique trade to acquire the Suns’ future first-round picks, currently held by the Brooklyn Nets due to the Kevin Durant-Mikal Bridges trade.
According to Jonathan Feigen’s article in the Houston Chronicle, Stone sought to offer the Nets’ picks back to Brooklyn GM Sean Marks in exchange for the Suns’ draft picks. The Rockets own the Nets’ first-round pick in 2024 and 2026, with the rights to swap first-round picks in 2025 and 2027. Houston seemed to target Phoenix’s first-round selections in 2025, 2027, and 2029, currently in Brooklyn’s possession from the Durant trade.
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