As the Houston Rockets pursue a difference-making scorer to elevate them in the Western Conference hierarchy next season, they appear to be willing to engage the Phoenix Suns in a staring contest about the asking price for Kevin Durant.

Durant reportedly has a wishlist (the Spurs, Rockets and Heat reportedly are on it), and with his expiring contract, he has a bit of leverage to get the deal he wants. But he is 37, not 27, and the threat of him passing on a lucrative two-year extension doesn't hold quite the same weight it once would.