The Phoenix Suns are reportedly gradually lowering the asking price in a Kevin Durant trade, which means their future draft picks are getting worse and worse. Because of that, the Milwaukee Bucks should target them in a deal with the Houston Rockets, making the potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade painfully obvious.
Milwaukee doesn’t own any of its own draft capital, so getting picks back in a deal is essential if they want to preserve the future of the franchise. With the Suns rumors coming out, they should try their hardest to pry those picks from the Rockets in an Antetokounmpo trade this summer.
It’s never been more clear.
Why are Suns lowering Kevin Durant trade asking price?
According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, in the Rockets’ calls with the Suns since the end of the season, they have gradually lowered their asking price in a potential Durant deal.
“Since the conclusion of the season, Houston has fielded several calls from Phoenix, who have since gradually lowered their asking price for Durant, those sources said,” Iko wrote. “There is a price where the Rockets would be interested, but with a fear of breaking up their roster for a 36-year-old coming off injury, doubt remains over a deal materializing.”
If that remains true, the Suns’ future is in an even worse place than people assumed. The general idea should be for whatever they get back in a Durant deal to help them move smoothly into the future. Now, that theory may have been called into question.
And if Phoenix’s future just got even more bleak, securing their future first-round picks has never been a better idea, especially for a team like the Bucks, who don’t have any future picks at their disposal.
What should the Bucks get back in a Rockets-Giannis trade?
Obviously, the 2027 and 2029 Suns picks should be the Bucks’ top priority from a draft capital perspective, but that should only be the start of a potential package, should the Rockets show interest in Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee should also force the Rockets to include at least one of their top players: Alperen Sengun or Amen Thompson. And if Houston strong-arms them in that situation, getting the likes of Jalen Green, Tari Eason, and Jabari Smith Jr. should be a must.
On top of that, they should want as many draft picks as they can get their hands on, not just the Suns’ picks. Any trade in which the Bucks are sending out Antetokounmpo should see them get an absolute haul in return.