Kevin Durant is being monitored by one team for any possible signs of discontent.
The Detroit Pistons would “loom large” for the Houston Rockets star Durant if he were ever to ask out of Houston, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported this week. Siegel notes that Durant has a “strong relationship” with Pistons star Cade Cunningham.
Durant, the former NBA MVP, just completed his first season with the Rockets. He averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game over 78 regular season appearances but only managed to play one game during the playoffs due to injury as Houston lost in the first round to the Los Angeles Lakers.
As for the Pistons, they were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference at 60-22 but got upset in the second round by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Detroit also has a fresh need in the frontcourt with Tobias Harris leaving for the San Antonio Spurs in free agency and with Jalen Duren still unsigned as a restricted free agent.
Set to turn 38 next month, Durant is signed for $43.9 million next season and has a $46.1 million player option for 2027-28. But the 16-time NBA All-Star is notoriously fickle and even caused some problems in Houston last season with yet another burner account saga.
The Rockets will be getting Fred VanVleet (ACL) back from injury next season, but it does not help that they lost a notable Durant favorite in free agency this summer. Meanwhile, the Pistons will be hoping that their 24-year-old All-Star guard Cunningham serves as a formidable selling point if Durant ever asks out of Houston.
