Watching Houston this year, if it showed me anything, it’s that they have a lot of heart in their soul, with a talented cast of young players complemented by proven vets like Dillon Brooks, Steven Adams, and Fred VanVleet.
However, when it came down to the wire, they were largely missing that superstar to help lead them to the promised land — though, of course, stars aren’t the only factors, and even they can make mistakes.
Reflecting on what the Rockets accomplished earlier today by acquiring Kevin Durant in the second blockbuster trade of the offseason, it closely mirrors what the Toronto Raptors did in the summer of 2018.
Will Rockets make a Raptors/Kawhi-like rise after adding Kevin Durant?
As we can all recall, they took a significant risk by trading DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a future first-rounder (which became Keldon Johnson) to maximize their win-now core by adding defensive star Kawhi Leonard.
For years, Toronto demonstrated that they could be a highly competitive squad, often regarded as one of the top favorites to emerge from the East. However, they frequently faced heartbreak at the hands of an ultra-competitive LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Even with a talented duo like Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan leading the team, DeRozan’s star power alone did not prove to be the definitive winning formula needed to elevate Toronto into true title contention.
I think it certainly helped when James departed the East that summer, choosing to head for sunny Los Angeles and the storied Lakers franchise. With that, Toronto saw their opportunity to pounce on the favorable situation and decided to put all their chips on a risky gamble to acquire Leonard, effectively ending the DeRozan era.
In Houston, it really does seem like they made that Kawhi-esque decision, likely sensing a favorable shift in parity that could realistically make anyone a contender if the right circumstances align.
Why not trade Jalen Green (who was largely the subject of scrutiny), Dillon Brooks, a gritty representative of their winning culture but not untouchable per se, the 10th pick, and some second-rounders if it means adding Kevin Durant?
If you believe your franchise is close enough to glory, it could ultimately be worth it — even if it ends up being just a one-year rental (though I highly doubt that). Toronto once showed that taking risky decisions can pay off, even if you're left to navigate a uncertain future. As for Houston, I’d say they definitely benefited from the KD sweepstakes, considering players like Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore, and Jabari Smith Jr. were not included in the offer.
Add to that, Houston still has bright stars like Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, who could easily lead the next generation. This somewhat mirrors what Toronto experienced with Pascal Siakam as the post-Kawhi era took shape, though I wouldn’t place all the win-now pressure solely on their shoulders, especially as KD eventually ages out of the league.