SoccerRecap
'Arsenal have flipped the pressure on to Man City in title race'
Arsenal's 3-0 win over Fulham puts pressure on Man City in the title race.
Sky Sports1 min read
NBA
Rumor Opens Door to Monster Kevin Durant for Jimmy Butler Trade This Summer
TL;DR
Recent reports suggest a potential trade involving Kevin Durant returning to the Warriors and Jimmy Butler moving to the Rockets. This comes after the Rockets' disappointing playoff exit against the Lakers.
Key points
- Kevin Durant may return to the Golden State Warriors
- Jimmy Butler could be traded to the Houston Rockets
- Rockets were eliminated by the Lakers in Game 6
- Lakers were missing key players during the series
- Speculation about Durant's issues with Rockets began at All-Star Weekend
Kevin DurantJimmy ButlerGolden State WarriorsHouston Rockets
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Recent reports continue to clear the path for a monster trade that sees Kevin Durant return to the Golden State Warriors and Jimmy Butler head to the Houston Rockets.
On Friday night, the Rockets saw their promising season come to a very disappointing end in a Game 6 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs. Making their elimination all the more maddening is that they could not beat a Lakers team that did not have Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for much of the series.
Yet, it should not come as a total shock. Something seemed off with the Rockets team for months. And it all seemed to start with the All-Star Weekend drama over speculation that Durant had a burner X account where he mocked his Houston teammates.
Most assumed it was a silly situation that would be quickly forgotten in the locker room. However, a new report from William Guillory and Sam Amick of The Athletic adds to the discourse that the All-Star Game allegations were a problem in the locker room and festered because they were never formally addressed by the future Hall of Famer.
“Several league sources with close ties to Rockets players indicated the social media situation was a significant distraction, one that was never truly resolved internally,” the report reveals. “… Privately, league sources said [Durant’s] teammates agreed to keep the matter in-house while focusing on basketball. It is unclear whether Durant ever clarified to his teammates whether the account belonged to him.”
Q&A
What are the details of the rumored Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler trade?
The rumor involves Kevin Durant potentially returning to the Golden State Warriors while Jimmy Butler could be traded to the Houston Rockets.
Why did the Houston Rockets have a disappointing playoff exit?
The Rockets were eliminated in Game 6 of the first round by the Los Angeles Lakers, despite the Lakers missing key players Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
What sparked the speculation about Kevin Durant's issues with the Rockets?
Speculation arose during All-Star Weekend when Durant was rumored to have a burner account that mocked his Houston teammates.
How could a trade impact the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets?
A trade could significantly alter the dynamics of both teams, enhancing the Warriors' championship aspirations while reshaping the Rockets' roster.
