A game of future and reality is quietly unfolding! The Suns are struggling with poor performance, the Timberwolves are trying to upgrade their lineup, while the Rockets are secretly manipulating, holding the draft pick swap rights and waiting for the fisherman's advantage.
In this three-way trade idea, the fate of D'Angelo Russell has become crucial, while Kevin Durant's helpers are gradually decreasing.
The once invincible super trio now struggles for the eighth spot in the West. Is the luxurious lineup just a paper tiger after all?
This "trade storm" is not groundless; it is a chain reaction triggered by the Suns' difficulties. The Suns were originally highly anticipated in the 2025 season, but with Booker's return from injury, followed by injuries to Beal, O'Neal, and Monte Morris, the team has found it difficult to maintain its competitiveness at the beginning of the season.
Despite Durant's continued firepower, he cannot hold up alone. After suffering three consecutive losses, the Suns dropped to 11th in the West, further away from the playoffs.
To date, the Suns have huge salary pressure, with the trio's combined annual salary exceeding $150 million. The management has almost no room for maneuver, and this luxurious battleship is gradually losing its direction.
The Rockets are in a completely different situation.
They are the biggest potential beneficiaries of this trade, for no other reason than they hold the Suns' first-round draft pick swap rights in 2025. 2025 is widely recognized as a big year for the draft, and Rockets general manager Rafael Stone knows that this pick could bring the team a lottery pick, or even the core of the team's future.
The worse the Suns perform, the higher the value of this draft pick.
Therefore, the Rockets are not only looking to strengthen their lineup in the trade but also to "disintegrate" the Suns' main lineup to further increase the value of the draft pick.
The Timberwolves are the most proactive promoters of the trade.
The team currently has a record of 17 wins and 16 losses, ranking eighth in the West, with only a 0.5-game difference from the tenth-placed Warriors. A misstep could see them fall out of the playoff zone.
The failure of the Towns trade has put pressure on general manager Scott Layden, who hopes to upgrade the frontcourt by bringing in Royce O'Neal from the Suns.
O'Neal is averaging 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists this season, with a three-point shooting percentage as high as 44.1%, making him a quality 3D player.
He worked with Gobert for five seasons at the Jazz, and their chemistry is unquestionable.
O'Neal's addition can not only enhance the Timberwolves' bench depth but also provide more stable defensive output for the team.
D'Angelo Russell, who was involved in the trade, seems somewhat "helpless."
After being seen as a trade filler by the Knicks and sent to the Timberwolves, his performance did not meet expectations: averaging 10 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, with a three-point shooting percentage of 35.9%.
As a player with excellent mid-to-long-range shooting ability and individual defensive skills, he apparently has not fully adapted to the Timberwolves' system.
If the trade goes through, Russell will join the Rockets, and Rockets coach Udoka highly recognizes his abilities, considering him an "upgrade" over Sheppard and Little Holiday.
According to the trade plan provided by American media outlet BR, the content of the three-team trade is as follows:
The Rockets send Jaisen Tate, Aaron Holiday, and the Clippers' second-round pick in 2026 to receive the Timberwolves' D'Angelo Russell;
The Timberwolves send Russell and their second-round pick in 2030 to receive the Suns' Royce O'Neal and Monte Morris;
The Suns send Royce O'Neal and Monte Morris to receive the Rockets' Jaisen Tate, Aaron Holiday, and two future second-round picks.
It can be seen from this trade that the Rockets aim to strengthen their backcourt depth while weakening the Suns' lineup strength; the Timberwolves hope to get a strong frontcourt player; while the Suns can only exchange some immediate rotation players and future assets through trades to reduce salary pressure.
D'Angelo Russell's value: a potential stock or a system mismatch?
Russell's performance this season has been lukewarm, but he possesses both defensive and shooting capabilities, fitting the Rockets' system.
If the trade goes through, he will play a bigger role in Udoka's system.
What the Rockets need is not a star player but a role player who can step up in critical moments, and Russell is undoubtedly the right choice.
Royce O'Neal's premium: the Timberwolves' last gamble?
O'Neal's contract is worth more than its price; his experience and three-point shooting ability are urgently needed by the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves' lack of frontcourt depth has always been a weakness of the team, and the introduction of O'Neal will qualitatively improve the team's offensive and defensive balance.
More importantly, his chemistry with Gobert will inject new vitality into the team's defensive system.
The Suns' choice: to cut losses or sink?
For the Suns, sending away O'Neal and Morris is a tough decision.
They are among the few reliable helpers around Durant, but the team's injury problems and salary pressure force the management to make choices.
If the trade goes through, it may further weaken Durant's championship hopes and make the Suns' future even more unpredictable.
If the trade goes through, the lineups of the three teams will undergo significant changes:
Rockets' lineup:
Starters: VanVleet, Jalen Green, D'Angelo Russell, Jabari Smith, Shen Jing
Bench: Little Kevin Porter, Tate, Ethan, Landale, Amen Thompson
Key data prediction: Russell averages 12 points and 4 assists, with a three-point shooting percentage rising to 38%.
Timberwolves' lineup:
Starters: Conley, Edwards, O'Neal, McDaniels, Gobert
Bench: Prince, Reed, Noel, Morris
Key data prediction: O'Neal averages 11 points and 6 rebounds, maintaining a three-point shooting percentage above 40%.
Suns' lineup:
Starters: Durant, Booker, Beal, Ayton, Goodwin
Bench: Tate, Holiday, Watford, Bolden
Key data prediction: Durant's average score may rise to 32 points, but the overall record may further decline.
"As Durant's helpers are sent away one by one, is this luxurious battleship of the Suns really going to sink?" Perhaps this trade is a win-win for the Rockets and Timberwolves, but for Durant to lose O'Neal and Morris is undoubtedly adding insult to injury.
The Suns' difficulties have not ended, how long can Durant hold on? Or is his next choice already in the works?