How Houston faces crossroads as trade talks intensify between Rockets and Suns
ON THE MOVE?
17 June
Would Kevin Durant put the Rockets over the top? Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.
In this episode, we explore the growing buzz surrounding the Houston Rockets and their rumored interest in trading for Kevin Durant. With speculation heating up, the big question looms: would the Rockets actually part ways with Jalen Green to make a win-now push with KD?
The conversation takes a hard look at what’s on the table. Could Fred VanVleet be part of a potential deal? Is a two-year window with Durant worth sacrificing key pieces of Houston’s young core? And if Jalen Green hasn’t yet proven he can lead a team deep into the playoffs, is now the time to pivot toward a veteran-led title run?
We also examine whether either the Rockets or the Miami Heat are truly willing to meet Phoenix’s demands, and what role Isaiah Thomas might be playing behind the scenes in the Suns’ front office — is he helping or complicating things? Reports also suggest Steven Adams may not be on board with the trade as it’s currently constructed, adding another layer of intrigue.
From questions about the Suns’ expectations to salary matching challenges in a potential blockbuster, we break down every angle of this high-stakes rumor mill.
Be sure to watch the video below as ESPN Houston's John Granato and Lance Zierlein weigh in!
Gleyber Torres drew a 10th-inning walk to send home Wenceel Pérez and give the Detroit Tigers a 1-0 win over Houston on Tuesday night, the Astros third consecutive shutout loss.
Pérez started the 10th as the automatic runner on second base and took third on Andy Ibáñez’s fly to deep right. Kaleb Ort (2-2) intentionally walked Dillon Dingler, then struck out Javier Báez for the second out.
Jahmai Jones walked, loading the bases, and Torres took a 3-2 sweeper low and outside to register his 500th career RBI.
Will Vest (6-2) gave up one hit over two scoreless innings.
The game featured a marquee pitching matchup, with Tigers ace Tarik Skubal against Detroit native and All-Star Hunter Brown.
The pair combined to allow eight hits in 13 scoreless innings. Skubal’s 10 strikeouts in seven innings made him the first pitcher to reach 200 in 2025.
The Tigers put runners on the corners with one out in the third, but Christian Walker snared Kerry Carpenter’s low liner and stepped on first for an inning-ending double play.
Zach McKinstry led off the fifth with his ninth triple, but Brown escaped the inning with a groundball, a strikeout and a fly out.
The start of the game was delayed 35 minutes by rain.
Key moment
The Astros nearly took the lead in the fourth inning, but Torres’ relay throw to the plate was in time to erase Yainer Diaz at the plate. Houston challenged the call, and initial replays seemed to show Diaz’s hand got to the plate before Dingler made the tag, but the call was confirmed by New York.
Key stat
The crowd of 30,770 gave the Tigers a season attendance of 1,893,473 through 65 games. Last season, they drew 1,858,295. They have already sold enough tickets to reach 2 million for the first time since 2017.
Up next
Tigers RHP Charlie Morton (8-10, 5.20 ERA) faces LHP Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.01) on Wednesday.
