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.

I was told yesterday that Houston hadn’t talked to Phoenix since last week, and that call didn’t go particularly well.”

Phoenix appears to be at a standoff with several teams while working to close a Durant deal before the first night of the draft on Wednesday. The Suns have reportedly been underwhelmed by offers from the Rockets, Spurs, Heat, Timberwolves, Raptors and others, believing they’re not getting enough in return for a player of Durant’s value.