Rockets
The Rockets have built one of the NBA’s deepest rosters, and perhaps that is why rival teams keep calling.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Houston has received trade inquiries involving both Kevin Durant and All-Star center Alperen Sengun this offseason.
One proposed framework reportedly involved a three-team deal that would have sent Durant to Detroit, Sengun to Boston and Jaylen Brown to Houston before Brown was ultimately traded to Philadelphia.
The Rockets never showed interest in that concept, however, and discussions never gained traction.
Detroit also explored a direct pursuit of Durant, but those talks likewise failed to produce anything meaningful.
While Durant isn’t considered completely untouchable, there has been no indication Houston plans to move him before the start of next season.
Knicks
The Knicks have agreed to a one-year deal with veteran center Andre Drummond, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
The contract is worth the veteran’s minimum, giving New York an experienced rebounder after losing Mitchell Robinson to the rival Celtics in free agency.
Drummond, 32, averaged 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds in just 19.5 minutes over 63 games with the 76ers last season. The former All-Star remains one of the league’s most productive rebounders on a per-minute basis and even showed some range, shooting 35.6 percent from beyond the arc.
The move comes after New York lost both Robinson and reserve center Ariel Hukporti in free agency, leaving Karl-Anthony Towns in need of an experienced backup.
Drummond doesn’t offer Robinson’s rim protection or mobility, but he should help replace much of the rebounding production while allowing the Knicks to stay below the second tax apron.
Pistons
One of Detroit’s biggest remaining offseason priorities is figuring out a long-term deal with center Jalen Duren.
According to Siegel, Duren’s camp believes the 22-year-old has earned a maximum contract after making an All-NBA team, while the Pistons are hoping to keep any extension closer to an average annual salary of roughly $35 million.
Technically, Detroit could offer Duren as much as five years and $287 million. A rival team could only offer four years and about $177 million, and no franchise currently has enough cap space to make that kind of offer anyway.
That leaves the Pistons with significant leverage as negotiations continue, though there’s little doubt the organization still views Duren as a major part of its future alongside Cade Cunningham.
MORE HOOPS | NBA free agents by position
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