Refusing to ask Jaylen Green! Rockets trade Durant is in a deadlock: Suns call for one person

Rumors about Kevin Durant's heavy trade have been stirring again! According to the latest news from Phoenix Suns reporter John Gambadoro, the Suns are "no interest" in Rockets guard Jaylen Green, which casts a huge shadow on the Rockets' plan to pursue Durant. Gambadoro made it clear that if the Rockets really want to get the superstar, Jabbarri Smith Jr.'s name must appear at the heart of the trading plan. The news

is in sharp contrast to reports from local media in Houston. Previously, Kelly Iko, a Rockets senior team reporter for The Athletic, revealed that the Rockets were extremely reluctant to send Smith Jr. and defensive champion Tari Ethan away in the transaction, emphasizing that these two young forwards are indispensable puzzles in coach Uduka’s tactical system, representing the team’s future defensive cornerstone and the answer to the space-type front line.

The well-known journalist Jake Weinbach has analyzed the Rockets' possible quotation framework: Jaylen Green + Jabary Smith Jr. + No. 10th pick in the first round of this year. If this plan comes true, the Suns are likely to quickly transfer Green, who does not meet his team-building ideas, to a third-party team. Now that the Suns are publicly "not interested" with Green, it undoubtedly greatly reduced the Rockets' negotiation chips, and Smith's stay and leave instantly became the key lifeline for whether the transaction can be advanced.

Jabbarri Smith's value is?

Bases of Talent: As the 2022 Tanhua Show, Smith has the size of a top forward, excellent athletic ability and huge defensive potential. His technical characteristics, both inside and outside, are perfectly in line with modern basketball's demand for space-type four positions.

Data has steadily improved: Last season's regular season, Smith, 20, played 57 games for the Rockets, averaging 12.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, showing solid basic skills; although his playoff experience is still weak (7 games, averaging 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game), his growth space in a high-pressure environment is still widely optimistic.

System adaptability: In Uduka's defensive system, Smith's cooperative defense coverage area and defense switching capabilities are an important part of the Rockets' construction of top-level defense. Losing him will mean the reconstruction of the defensive system.

Trading dilemma: The Rockets' difficult game

The Suns' management's move can be said to hit the Rockets' weakness. On the one hand, as a historical scorer, Durant's combat power is full of temptation for any team that is determined to win the championship; on the other hand, Smith Jr. represents the core assets and future hopes that the Rockets have carefully cultivated. If the Rockets want to facilitate transactions, they have to painfully weigh the value between the temptation of the current superstars and the future potential stocks.

The Sun's attitude has been put on the table: Don't want Green, call Smith. The Rockets management is facing a severe test at this moment - is it a time when a potential star is gritting his teeth and giving away Durant's final peak period? Or should we withstand the pressure and retain the young core and wait for a more mature opportunity? The core contradictions in this trading game around Durant have been clearly focused on Jabbarry Smith Jr. The Rockets' choice may directly change the team's development trajectory in the next few years.