Houston, we have a problem. With Kevin Durant sidelined with a lingering ankle injury, the Rockets dropped Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers and now face elimination.
Facing a near insurmountable 0-3 deficit, the Rockets‘ season seems all but over.
Of the many problems plaguing the current Rockets roster, a lack of a true point guard is chief among them.
This week, former All-Star guard Jeff Teague urged the Rockets to reunite Kevin Durant with Kyrie Irving in Houston.
“They need to get Kyrie [Irving],” Teague said on the Club 520 Podcast, stressing the importance of Durant needing a complementary scorer.
“[Amen] Thompson is cold, but [defenders] back up off of him so much it ruins driving lanes.”
Earlier this season, during a podcast appearance, Durant also noted his desire to play alongside elite scorers.
“I don’t need my point guard to get me the ball,” Durant stated. “It’s cool when they do. But, I can go get one on my own. I need them to be aggressive so they can loosen up the rest of the defense for me.”
In Houston, that has not often been the case. For as great as Amen Thompson is defensively, his offense needs refinement.
Unlike Steph Curry and Russell Westbrook, with whom Durant advanced to the Finals, Thompson is not able to score in bunches. Additionally, his streaky long-range shooting hinders the offense’s overall spacing.
Should Houston Trade For Kyrie Irving?
GettyKyrie Irving played four seasons with Kevin Durant
Perhaps the solution to the Rockets’ point guard woes is reuniting Kevin Durant with his former teammate Kyrie Irving.
Irving, 34, played alongside Durant with the Brooklyn Nets from 2019 to 2023.
Despite not winning a championship, Irving and Durant formed one of the most dynamic duos in the league.
“I will say this,” Irving stated on his most recent Twitch stream. “The 7/11 duo of me and KD will never be topped in terms of just being on the court with somebody that special. So, let me get that disclaimer out. Let me get that disclaimer. I’ve played with a lot of great players, but playing with KD — that was OD. One of the best of all-time.”
Perhaps with the Mavericks entering a rebuild, the Rockets could entice them with a trade package for Irving.
Even after his lengthy injury history, Irving is a much better scorer than the Rockets’ guard options. Alongside Durant, Irving could potentially help remedy Houston’s offensive struggles.
The former No. 1 pick averaged 24.7 points per game in 50 games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Even in the late stages of his career, Irving flashed a deep bag of tricks. He still proved capable of scoring at a high clip.
Given his injury history, the Rockets may be able to land the nine-time All-Star without selling the farm.
Either way, the Thompson experiment at point guard cannot continue next season. Next season will be the final year of Durant’s $90 million deal with the Rockets.
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