According to ESPN reporter Shams Charania on Wednesday, Suns star Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets are interested in each other. As the Suns missed the playoffs with a record of 36 wins and 46 losses, Durant's future has become the focus of attention.

Shams Charania and his colleague Brian Windhorst previously reported that the Suns will start trade negotiations for Durant this summer. On Wednesday local time, Shams said on ESPN's live show "NBA Today": "The Houston Rockets are a team we have to pay close attention to in the playoffs. When you look at which teams can perform well in the early stages of the playoffs and which ones may be eliminated early, you will find that there is already a certain degree of interest between the Rockets and the Suns' Kevin Durant."

"If the Rockets can win a few rounds of the playoffs, they may choose to keep the current lineup. But if they are eliminated early and the results are not up to expectations, they may reconsider bringing in Kevin Durant this summer."

Durant, 36, averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game this season, with a shooting percentage of 52.7% and a three-point shooting percentage of 43.0%. He is still one of the most dominant players in the league on the offensive end. He prefers to join a team with championship potential and has reached a preliminary consensus with the Suns management. Forbes reporter Evan Sidery recently pointed out that the Suns will help Durant find his ideal next home. The Rockets are widely regarded as one of Durant's most likely next homes because they have a certain degree of competitiveness and control the Suns' unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029.

According to the schedule, the Rockets will face the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. If the team is eliminated in the first round, the trade discussion between them and Durant may heat up again.