Well, it happened. Kevin Durant was traded to the [Houston Rockets](https://www.thedreamshake.com). So, whether you like it or not, jersey number 35 is seemingly going to be with the name ‘Durant’ on it for Houston over the next few seasons. All it took was Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick, and five second‑rounders. Relatively lower value when you consider everything all-in-all, but more on that later.
What had been a roster on the search for a true superstar after finishing as the two seed a year prior, may have just added the missing piece. Love him, hate him, there’s no denying how Durant’s arrival offers a major shift for this Rockets squad. Between star magnetism, championship DNA, and a player that can close out in crunch time, oh, and did I forget, a future first ballot Hall of Famer, Houston adds a lot with Kevin Durant. But how much does he truly add?
Well, for starters, and let’s not mince any words here: Kevin Durant is a generational scorer. In his 17th season in the league last year, he averaged 26.6 PPG to go with incredible shooting splits of 50 percent from the field and 43 percent from deep. The numbers don’t lie, Durant is simply elite offensively. He can score anywhere on the court with ease, something Houston’s lacked in a player since the James Harden trade in 2021.
What he brings is way beyond scoring, however. Houston’s first round playoff exit this spring revealed the real issue, not a lack of talent or effort, but the absence of a star. I’ll say it a million times, love him or hate him, Durant fills that gap. Sure, you can be concerned about injuries or his age, but even at 36 (soon to be 37), he’s the type of player that changes expectations. For the Rockets, it’s no longer about making just the playoffs; it’s about how far they’ll go. With Durant comes expectations, with expectations comes pressure, and with pressure, a team’s real self shows.
Then there’s the potential leadership component. The issue many are worried about with trading away Dillon Brooks. Well, as much as I loved Dillon, pretending even in the slightest that he is on any level near Durant is just delusion. Leadership isn’t something one singular player can have on a team. Dillon may have brought unmatched energy every night, but at times, his energy was just as hurtful to the team as it was helpful. Dillon was a great leader, but losing him is not something that will just lose all leadership in the locker room. FVV is still on the roster, Jeff Green could be brought back, and now you have Kevin Durant. Now, I’m sure everyone has their opinions on how much of a leader KD truly is, but I’ll say this. He’s lived under the weight of expectations and judgement his entire career. And yet, you’ve never heard any teammates talk about him as selfish when it comes to on the court or in the locker room.
If you’re worried about trade requests, think about it this way. He wanted to come to Houston. He wants to extend with the Rockets and retire in H-town. He understands there’s not much left in his NBA career. So if you think he won’t be a leader even in the smallest way, you’re wrong. Rockets like Amen Thompson and Tari Eason should be chewing his ear off everyday on how to get better. As a veteran of the game, I expect nothing less of Durant than to be a leader both in the locker room, but especially on the court. Truth be told, Kevin Durant has become both the compass and the standard for this team now.
There’s also the history between Durant and head coach, Ime Udoka. The two go back to the 2020-21 NBA season where Udoka served as an assistant for the Nets. Udoka was a large factor in not only wanting to trade for Durant last season, but also part of why KD listed the Rockets as a trade destination. There’s some coaches in the league who players truly want to play for, and Ime is one of them. Add in assistant coach Royal Ivey, one of KD’s longtime friends, a former teammate and coach of his in multiple places, and you add in even more reason to believe Durant will be fine in Houston. Even more reason to believe how Houston will be able to build an offense around Durant without hurting anyone else on the team. He loves the coaching staff, they love him, and with mutual trust and respect between both sides should only bring high results.
Now back to his game, Durant joins a team who’s defense propelled them a year prior. The Rockets built a reputation on gritty defense and high pace, a huge part of the reason why they finished as the two seed out West. While KD may not be the defender he was a few years ago, he’s still absolutely capable, especially in the half court and switch-heavy defenses. So no, he won’t guard any team’s best player, but he will definitely not be a liability either. He’s a 7’0 wing who understands the game of basketball, he’s not going to just forget how to play defense. Losing Dillon’s defense was the biggest loss in the trade in my opinion, but with plenty of other great defenders on the team and a great defensive coach, I don’t see this defense losing much of any strength on the defensive side.
But of course, as much as I love this trade, no big move like this comes without risk. Durant’s age and health are question marks. He’s 36. His injury history is no secret. And Houston gave up their former number two overall pick Jalen Green, their gritty defender (and also best three-point shooter last season) Dillon Brooks, and the No. 10 pick, plus five second-rounders. It may sound like much, but it really isn’t. They kept core assets, including valuable Suns picks (2025, 2027, and a 2029 swap via the Brooklyn deal), and only had to give up two players who, don’t get me wrong, are good, but weren’t game-changing to the team.
Jalen was too inconsistent and didn’t show nearly as much growth as hoped for in his four seasons in Houston. And while people will still say “he’s only 23 years old, he’s still young,” I just don’t see it. You just finished as the two seed in a Western conference that’s about to only get even more dangerous, there is no time to hope and continue to wait for development from Jalen that may or may not be there. The team fit just wasn’t right for him. As for the 10th pick, like I said, for a team who has a true championship window, Houston was better off ending up with Kevin Durant. The Rockets gave up upside, but in return got a real shot at a ring, simply worth the cost if all goes as planned.
And yet, with all the ambition, there’s still hope even if the trade backfires. The front office left itself with all those Suns picks that remain untouched. If things go sideways, they’re not stuck. If Durant proves ageless, they’re title-chasing with margin. Either way, it’s a high bet built on options.
Landing Kevin Durant is a potential gamble, not a question, but it’s a smart move, a championship move. Houston didn’t add Durant for no reason, they added him to win. The question isn’t if Durant elevates them, it’s how far? Can this be a title-winning team? I think it can be, as long as everything goes well. This Rockets Front Office started off their offseason with three great moves in extending Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet, as well as trading for Durant. What else is in store?