The Kevin Durant trade will likely have ripple effects but Jabari Smith Jr. getting traded is not going to be one of them.
Durant was moved to the Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and draft assets, a cost that some in Pistons land thought Detroit should have paid to bring the legendary scorer to the Motor City.
The Pistons dodged a bullet there, as KD on an expiring deal in Detroit is a recipe for disaster and one that would have cost them a key member of their core, which was not the case in Houston.
I was hoping the ripple effect of adding another tall forward might force Houston to trade one of their young guys, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
Detroit Pistons trade rumors: Jabari Smith Jr. and Kevin Durant
There was some speculation that the Rockets may have to move Jabari Smith Jr., who is due for an extension this summer and has some similar qualities as Durant.
But according to The Athletic (subscription) Houston plans to move Smith Jr. back into the starting lineup after he had lost his spot to Amen Thompson and injury this season.
Thompson can move into the two-guard spot with Fred VanVleet, leaving Durant, Smith Jr. And Sengun to fill out the frontcourt.
Yikes.
The Rockets are in the same position with Smith Jr. that the Pistons are in with Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren. Just like Detroit, Houston doesn’t have to extend Smith Jr. this summer and can let him play out his current deal to become a restricted free agent, where they would still have team control.
The Rockets clearly decided to speed up their timeline, but it doesn’t mean they have to give up on their core, as they were in a unique position to add KD without giving up a guy who was part of their long-term plans.
We’ll have to see how that works out, as Tari Eason (another guy I’d love on the Pistons) is also due a big raise this summer and Amen Thompson the season after next, so the Rockets are either going to be deep into the second tax apron or have to make some moves if they want to extend Durant for two more seasons.
At that point, the Pistons may come sniffing around, as Jabari Smith Jr. and/or Tari Eason would be great additions to Detroit’s core. But for now, they will have to wait, as it appears Houston is going to keep them all, which gives them arguably the deepest and most talented roster outside of the NBA champion Thunder.