8 hours ago
Rockets acquire 15-time all-star Kevin Durant; Suns receive Green, Brooks
Kevin Durant is heading back to Texas. The
Phoenix Suns
have agreed to trade the 36-year-old star forward to the
Houston Rockets
, according to ESPN. In return, the
Suns
will receive guard
Jalen Green
, forward
Dillon Brooks
, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and five second-round picks.
The
Kevin Durant trade
, which is likely to be finalized by July 6, when the new league year begins, is due to salary cap rules involving Green's upcoming contract.
The exact timing of the NBA trade remains uncertain; however, discussions about it have been ongoing for several months and have intensified since the end of the Suns' season. Additionally, the Rockets appear to have been a frontrunner in these conversations for quite some time.
A 15-time
NBA All-Star
, Durant was part of a star trio in Phoenix with Bradley Beal and Devin Booker. However, this group did not win a playoff game in two seasons together and completely missed the 2025 postseason.
Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists last season, shooting 52.7% from the field and 43.0% from the three-point range. Despite being past his prime, the 15-time All-Star and 2014 NBA MVP remains among the league's most effective scorers.
Live Events
This will be Durant's fifth NBA team, following stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Suns. He won two championships and two NBA Finals MVP awards with the Warriors.
The Suns underperformed last season, finishing 36-46 despite having the NBA's highest payroll. Meanwhile, the Rockets had a breakout year, finishing second in the Western Conference before losing to the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.
Led by coach Ime Udoka and rising talents like Amen Thompson and All-Star center Alperen Sengun, the Rockets are seen as an up-and-coming team in the West. ESPN reports that Houston, along with Miami and San Antonio, was one of Durant's preferred destinations.
Durant, who played college basketball at Texas, is set to earn $54.7 million next season. He is also eligible for a two-year extension worth up to $122 million once the new league year begins.
