After 8-for-1 transaction, will the Rockets still have a lot of momentum? It doesn’t matter if they haven’t won the championship, the Space City can be rebuilt twice

According to the NBA's schedule for next season, next Christmas battle will have a focus battle between the Rockets and the Lakers. This is also the direct benefit of the Rockets after Durant comes. Not only has the team's strength increased, but the attention has also increased, which is what the Rockets have always hoped for. After all, the Rockets have been missing a top superstar for so many years. After Durant joins, the Rockets will not be inferior to any team in terms of traffic and popularity. Durant is a superstar and the offensive point that the Rockets need most.

So, is it really worth it for the Rockets to trade 8 chips for Durant before? As we all know, not long ago, the Rockets dug Durant from the Suns with two starters Dillon Brooks and Jaylen Green, plus the No. 10 pick and five second-round draft picks. The Rockets seem to have given out 8 chips, which is a bit of a loss, but in fact, being able to exchange such chips for Durant makes the Rockets directly a strong contender for the championship. Although Jaylen Green was the second-tier show that year, he did not play in four years. Dillon Brooks is also a bit overstatement. Although he is a first-class wing defender and three-pointer pitcher, Brooks did not perform well in the Rockets' playoffs. Some people may think that the Rockets' eight-and-one trade will affect their future. After all, two players who are in their age will be exchanged for a 37-year-old veteran superstar. Is it really worth the Rockets doing this?

Durant is already 37 years old. His peak period may only be three or four years, or even one or two years. It is hard to say whether the Rockets will renew Durant, let alone the future of the Rockets. However, according to the analysis of famous ESPN reporters Tim McMahon, Venhorst and others, the Rockets actually did not suffer any losses in this deal. Because in this deal, it seems that the Rockets are not hurt, they just sent out Jaylen Green, a newcomer who did not meet expectations.

Moreover, the Rockets are the most qualified team in the league to maintain competitiveness for a long time. After all, the Rockets still have many excellent young players in the team, such as Amen Thompson, Ethan, and Smith Jr., who has become the Western Conference All-Star last season. Even if Durant did not help the Rockets win the championship after joining, then after Durant retired, the Rockets can still rely on these cores and the freed salary space to do a lot, which is equivalent to a second reconstruction of the Space City.

You should know that in the summer of 2027, the Rockets will free up enough salary space, and with young players such as Shin Kyung, Amen Thompson, Smith Jr., Ethan, and even Shepard, they still have strong competitiveness. Of course, the premise is that the Rockets must use their capacity to sign another superstar to help the team win.

So, in the opinion of these expert reporters, after the 8-for-1 trade, the Rockets actually still have enough potential, and even if the 37-year-old Durant does not help the Rockets win the championship, it doesn't matter. In the next few years, the Rockets have cap space and young cores, and they can start a secondary reconstruction and be stronger than they are now.