In a blockbuster move that’s sent shockwaves through the NBA, Kevin Durant has been traded to the Houston Rockets, marking a dramatic shift in the league’s power dynamics and signaling Houston’s intent to contend now.
The Phoenix Suns agreed to send Durant to Houston in exchange for:
- Jalen Green
- Dillon Brooks
- The No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft
- Five future second-round picks
While the trade won’t be official until July 6 due to contract timing, the implications are already reverberating across the league.
The Rockets, fresh off a 52-win season and a second seed in the West, were ousted in the first round of the playoffs. Their Achilles’ heel? Half-court offense.
Enter Durant — a 37-year-old future Hall of Famer who still averaged 26.6 points per game last season on 43% shooting from three. His elite scoring fills a glaring need and pairs him with a young, athletic core that includes Alperen Şengün, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson.
For the Suns, this trade marks a pivot. After a disappointing 36-46 season and missing the playoffs, Phoenix is retooling. They gain a dynamic scorer in Green, a defensive presence in Brooks, and valuable draft capital. While it’s not the haul they gave up to get Durant in 2023, it’s a respectable return in a tight market.
Durant’s move to Houston reunites him with coach Ime Udoka, with whom he shares history from Brooklyn and Team USA. The Rockets are betting big — not just on Durant’s production, but on his leadership and championship pedigree. If he stays healthy and meshes with the team, Houston could be a serious threat in the West.
But the gamble is real. Durant’s age and injury history loom large, and the Rockets have sacrificed depth and future flexibility. Still, in a league where stars drive success, Houston has made its intentions clear: the time to win is now.
Rockets Grade: A+
Suns Grade: C
