The Phoenix Suns have traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Jalen Green, Dilon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft and five second-round picks, per NBA insider Shams Charania.
The summer of Durant did not last long, as the trade happened hours before Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. This trade undoubtedly changes the landscape of the NBA and certainly in the Western Conference.
Durant had been circulating in trade talks for quite some time, and the Suns finally pulled the trigger, securing a massive return for the 15-time All-Star. Phoenix is coming off a disappointing campaign that ended with them finishing 11th in the West — missing even the play-in tournament.
Over the past few months, it became increasingly evident that Durant's time in Phoenix was winding down. The 37-year-old had already been floated in trade discussions leading up to the NBA trade deadline, signaling that his exit was more a matter of when— not if.
On the other hand, the Rockets just wrapped up their best season in recent memory. Houston claimed the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference but fell short in the first round against a more seasoned Golden State squad.
There were questions about whether Houston would be willing to part ways with its promising young core, but the chance to land a former MVP like Durant was simply too good to pass up.
The Rockets now have a proven scorer — arguably one of the greatest to ever lace them up. Last season, Houston lacked that go-to offensive weapon who could consistently score at all three levels. That's no longer the case. With Durant in the fold, they now feature one of the most dangerous scorers in the game today.
Many other teams were in the running for Durant, including the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and the Toronto Raptors, to name a few.
During the season, the two-time champion averaged 26.6 points per game, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks while shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point range in 62 games and 36.5 minutes of action.
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This story was originally published June 22, 2025 at 9:48 AM.