Baron Davis thinks Kevin Durant in Houston is a clear upgrade over Jalen Green: "When you think about what the Rockets need, they need efficient scoring"
Kevin Durant's blockbuster trade to Houston is widely seen, including by Baron Davis, as a move to address a glaring need. Although the team had to part ways with Jalen Green, the Rockets added a piece capable of getting them over the hump in a stacked Western Conference.
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"I've been saying that KD is an upgrade," BD said in the latest episode of "The Draymond Green Show." "When you think about what the Rockets needed, they need efficient scoring. What KD brings in presence, his offensive awareness, his defensive awareness, his overall 'I'm aiming to win a championship' (mindset). I think it's a fair trade."
With Durant in the fold, the Rockets have no choice but to aim high immediately. At 37, he's not here for a slow build. Nevertheless, as Davis highlighted, the Rockets are ready to take the next step. His arrival may raise expectations overnight, but it also gives Houston a clearer identity in a crowded playoff picture.
Why the KD-Jalen Green trade happened
Trading Green and Dillon Brooks for Durant wasn't just about landing a superstar. For the Rockets, it was a response to what they learned about their roster during a tough postseason run.
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In Davis' view, the 2025 first-round series against the Warriors was the tipping point that exposed Jalen's limitations. Green still had plenty of room to grow, but the Rockets clearly didn't have the patience to wait it out, especially if someone like the 2014 MVP is available on the market.
"When you look at Jalen Green and you look at Dillon Brooks, and you say, when they played well, did the Rockets win (against the Warriors)? Jalen Green had one great game… Dillon Brooks, let's say he was consistent. He had a consistent series… Now, they start to look at who they could rely on," Davis added.
As Davis theorized, the Warriors series was practically an audition for the Rockets. Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson passed with flying colors. However, they couldn't afford such inefficient outings by Green, who connected only 37 percent of his shots over seven games.
Brooks, as usual, competed on both ends. However, including him in the deal was necessary as long as they kept Jabari Smith, Jr. and Tari Eason. Smith, 22, carved a niche for himself as Houston's designated shooter off the bench (46 percent from deep in the 2025 playoffs), while Eason is an energizer bunny every team needs.
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Related: Michael Jordan shows off his $115 million luxurious superyacht in Croatia
Udoka's rotation puzzle
With the departure of their two starters, Udoka will have to make some interesting decisions going forward. The Rockets are deep, but they only have Reed Sheppard and Aaron Wiggins at the two-spot.
Deciding on a starting lineup could also be tricky. Smith Jr. could slide over next to Durant for a supersized frontcourt, or Udoka could put Sheppard next to VanVleet for more shooting and playmaking.
Whatever combination Udoka leans on, it's the type of challenge most coaches would welcome. Durant's arrival gave them more flexibility and an all-time great shot-creator that changes how the Rockets close games. For a team looking to take the leap, there's no substitute for that kind of certainty in crunch time.
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Related: "He gets somebody who is kind of like more of a firm leader" - Paul Pierce points out the best thing about Kevin Durant going to Houston
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
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