The Brooklyn Nets got back their 2026 first round pick from the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night in a complex trade involving draft positions.
This trade might be a step towards the Rockets trying to get Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns according to ESPN.
In the exchange the Rockets also gave up the chance to swap their 2025 first-round pick or the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2025 first-round pick for the Nets’ 2025 first-round pick.
In return Houston will receive the Suns’ 2027 first round pick and a first-round pick in 2029 whichever is better between the Dallas Mavericks’ or the Suns’ position.
Additionally the Rockets gained the right to exchange two first round picks. In 2025 Houston can trade their own first round pick or the Thunder’s to the Nets for the Suns’ first round pick. In 2029 they can swap their first-round pick for the less favorable one between the Suns’ or Mavericks’ picks.
The announcement came shortly after reports that Brooklyn plans to trade Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for Bojan Bogdanovic,along with five first-round draft picks, a second-round pick and a first-round pick swap.
Both the Nets (32-50) and the Rockets (41-41) finished just outside the playoffs in their respective conferences this year.
