Beijing time on July 3, TA reporter Fred Katz broke the news that the Suns and Rockets are leading the first seven-party big trade in NBA history, involving seven teams: Lakers, Warriors, Hawks, Timberwolves, and Nets. If the deal is reached, it will break the record of six-party trade in 2011, and it can be called the "basketball version of Game of Thrones" - each team is betting madly for the championship or reconstruction, and even "sacrificing" the star player.
The core of the deal revolves around Durant: the Rockets sent Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and the No. 10 pick to the Suns for Durant; the Lakers used the future first-round pick + cash to "pick up" the Nets center Claxton (known as "Zhao Si"); the Warriors got "Li Huang" Reeves. The best part is that by bringing the Hawks into the game, the Rockets not only circumvented the 125% salary matching limit, but also saved tens of millions of cash, which can be called a textbook of "getting something for nothing".
The "lifeline" of this epic deal is hidden in Jalen Green's contract. In the summer of 2025, Green's three-year, $105 million contract triggered the "poison pill clause" - when the Rockets sent him out, his salary was calculated based on the last year of his rookie contract, $12.5 million, while when the Suns received him, it was calculated based on (12.5 million + $105 million) ÷ 4 ≈ $29.5 million. This rule means that the transaction will not be completed until July 7 at the earliest, giving the teams a window to "bargain".
Even more dramatic is Durant's contract extension script. According to Shams, Durant plans to sign a two-year, $112 million contract extension with the Rockets, and take the initiative to reduce his salary by $10 million to help the team strengthen. Why is the 38-year-old "Death God" willing to lower his own price? On the one hand, he is eager to spend the rest of his life in the Rockets and hit the championship; on the other hand, the 5 million space freed up by the salary cut may allow the Rockets to sign an All-Star veteran in the free market, such as "minimum salary" Draymond Green.
The Rockets bet on the future to exchange for Durant and form the "Durant-VanVleet combination". Durant averaged 26.6 points and 6 rebounds per game last season, and carried the Suns forward in the playoffs; VanVleet is the league's top "big heart", and the two are expected to replicate the dominance of the "OK combination". But the risks are also huge: Durant is 37 years old and has frequent injuries. If he fails to win the championship, the Rockets will become a "super team joke".
The Suns sent Durant away in exchange for Green, Brooks and the 10th pick. Green is a gifted player. He averaged 21.4 points and 4.2 assists per game last season, and his three-point shooting rate was 38%. He can be called a "low-profile version of Kobe". Brooks is a top 3D player, averaging 14 points + 1.5 steals per game, and his defensive efficiency is in the top 20 in the league. But can the two be compatible? The Suns management is betting on the "youth storm". If Green realizes his potential, this deal will go down in history.
The Lakers traded a future first-round pick for Claxton, which can be called a "bloody profit". Zhao Si averaged 12.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game last season. His athletic ability and efficiency in catching the ball are the best in the league, and he is a perfect match for James' passing. More importantly, the Lakers' salary is close to the second rich line (188.9 million), but it has not triggered the hard cap, and there is still room for operation - for example, using the middle-class exception to sign Cousins to strengthen the inside line.
The Timberwolves got Kuminga and Moody, forming a "young double gun". Kuminga has a strong physique and is called "Little Antetokounmpo", but his shooting stability is poor; Moody is a top 3D player, with a three-point shooting percentage of 39% last season and a defensive coverage area comparable to Leonard 20. The Timberwolves' salary has exceeded the second rich line (188.9 million), and they can only rely on rookie bonuses in the future. This deal can be called a "gamble on the future".
The Hawks got DiVincenzo and a first-round pick. DiVincenzo is a "champion puzzle", averaging 12.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season, with a three-point shooting percentage of 38%, and strong defense; the first-round pick provides the Hawks with draft flexibility15. More importantly, the Hawks have less salary pressure, and in the future they can build a "one star and four shooters" system around Trae Young + DiVincenzo to impact the top four in the East.
The Nets only got 1 first-round pick and 1 second-round pick, which seems to be a "blood loss", but in fact it hides a mystery. The Nets hold 4 first-round picks and 55 million salary space. In the future, they can pursue Antetokounmpo or Doncic, or even act as a third party to facilitate a bigger deal. In this deal, the Nets are more like a "tool man", exchanging Claxton for future assets to pave the way for the next round of reconstruction.
The essence of the seven-party deal is the difficult choice between "championship" and "reconstruction" for each team. The Rockets bet on the future for the present, the Suns exchanged superstars for youth, the Lakers seized the last peak of Lao Zhan, the Warriors opened the post-Curry era, and the Timberwolves, Hawks, and Nets planted seeds for the future.
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