The NBA offseason is off and running, and that was the case even with the NBA Finals in the mix.
Many teams were trying to, and some did their best to bolster their roster, and that was the case for the Houston Rockets. The Rockets came away as winners in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes as they traded for the 15-time All-Star on Sunday just hours before Game 7.
It is a move that can and will continue to make shockwaves in the NBA. The Rockets are coming off a tremendous year that saw them earn the No. 2 seed in the West. The expectation is that they will only improve with the addition of Durant, which certainly elevates them to another tier.
Many teams had a chance to acquire Durant, including the Miami Heat. The expectation was that the Heat were among the favorites, but according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix, Miami was unwilling to trade away two of their key players, Nikola Jovic and Kel'el Ware, in a deal for Durant.
"Miami was never really serious. They just pretend to be to appease their fan base."
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Heat had to assemble a substantial trade package to acquire Durant, without including Ware. The deal reportedly featured Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, the No. 20 pick in the 2025 draft, and a future pick swap.
The Heat were among the three teams for whom Durant was intended to join. Miami had the pieces to make a move for Durant, but it appeared they were never real contenders to land the four-time scoring champion.
Instead, the 36-year-old superstar is headed to Houston - a team that might've been just one piece away from title contention. With Durant in the fold, the Rockets now have a legitimate shot to win it all next season.
Houston wrapped up the year as the No. 2 seed in the West and excelled on both ends of the floor. They ranked eighth in offensive rating, sixth in defensive rating, and seventh in net rating-strong indicators of their two-way prowess.
Still, despite their success, they lacked a consistent go-to scorer who could generate offense in tight moments. According to GeniusIQ, the Rockets ranked 27th in effective field goal percentage on off-the-dribble jumpers and 24th overall on jumpers.
Durant gives them exactly what they needed: an elite offensive weapon who can elevate the group and deliver in the biggest moments.
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