Sunday, June 22, was supposed to be all about crowning an NBA champion. But before the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in a thrilling Game 7 to win the NBA Finals, a bombshell trade rocked the league. The Houston Rockets acquired two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant, sending Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and draft capital to the Phoenix Suns.
With many NBA analysts giving their immediate thoughts and reactions on the trade, Stephen A. Smith suggests that Jalen Green was the catalyst for this trade.
Stephen A. Smith Blames Jalen Green for Rockets-Suns Trade
On ESPN’s First Take, Smith didn’t mince his words when discussing the trade. “When you look at Jalen Green, We’re not gonna insult him, but I’ll be damn if I’m not gonna throw shade, had that man showed up in the postseason against the Golden State Warriors and played better, this wouldn’t have happened,” the longtime ESPN analyst said.
He added, “Jalen Green showed you he ain’t ready, and the rest of the Houston Rockets showed you they very well may be. When you look at VanVleet, this is a champion. When you look at Amen Thompson … he plays like a champion.”
Smith continued praising Houston’s supporting cast, highlighting Alperen Şengün’s emergence as a star big man and labeling Ime Udoka as a “top-five coach in basketball.”
Smith’s criticism didn’t stop there. He stressed that Green needs to develop a reliable jump shot and questioned the overall growth in his game. The fourth-year guard certainly struggled in his first postseason appearance, scoring in single digits five times during the Rockets’ seven-game series loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Over the course of the series, Green averaged just 13.3 points while shooting only 37.2 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from beyond the arc. His lone bright spot came in Game 2, where he scored 38 points and knocked down eight three-pointers, a performance that showcased his potential when he plays with consistency.
Smith went on to say, “I’m not implying anything i’m just simply saying when you see somebody’s game and it’s predicated on athleticism and there’s almost no growth no development it does make you wonder what the hell are you doing when you ain’t playing the game one of them 82 nights.”
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While Green clearly has areas to improve, the level of criticism may be a bit harsh considering this was his first taste of playoff basketball. The postseason is notoriously more physical, intense, and demanding, and experience often separates success from struggle. With time, he should be better equipped to understand how to thrive under pressure in the playoffs.
While it remains to be seen what the Suns will do with the 2021 No. 2 pick, there’s an evident logjam at his position with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal already in the backcourt. Meanwhile, the Rockets believe that adding Kevin Durant positions them as legitimate title contenders in the loaded Western Conference.
Only time will tell who truly won the trade, but for now, check out PFSN’s Bjorn Bergstrom’s grades for both teams.
