The Phoenix Suns have traded 15-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Sunday. In return, the Suns are receiving high-scoring guard Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks.
Here’s Charania with analysis on the trade, noting the picks help restock Phoenix’s trade assets:
The deal places Durant on the No. 2-seeded Rockets and elevates the team’s positioning for title contention in the West. The Suns land a 23-year-old scorer for a high-powered backcourt with Devin Booker, a tough 3-and-D player and now have 3 firsts and 8 seconds to use in trades.
Charania also reported the final candidates for a Durant deal came down to two teams, the Rockets and Miami Heat, but Houston’s deal got across the finish line.
The Heat made multiple offers for Durant but ultimately turned down the opportunity to place Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, the No. 20 pick and other draft assets in a deal, sources said.
Durant, who turns 37 in September, averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game through 62 appearances this past season for the Suns. The Suns still finished the regular season with a 36-46 record, missing out on the Western Conference play-in.
Houston finished the season with a 52-30 record, good enough for the No. 2 seed in the West. The Rockets were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by the Golden State Warriors in seven games.
Green, 23, the centerpiece of Houston’s outgoing package, averaged 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game through 82 appearances this past season.