Despite making big improvements this offseason, the San Antonio Spurs are likely still keeping a close eye on their in-state rival, the Houston Rockets. The Oklahoma City Thunder remains the team to beat in the West for the foreseeable future.
However, behind them are the Rockets, who have assembled an incredibly deep and talented roster now headlined by superstar Kevin Durant. He was acquired from the Phoenix Suns and is expected to help solve the Rockets' biggest flaw, shooting, potentially transforming them into a title contender.
San Antonio nearly traded for Durant this summer but ultimately pulled back on trade talks. That opened the door for the Rockets to swoop in and trade for him, and now they have the privilege of paying him his next big contract.
The Spurs should hope Kevin Durant will sabotage the Rockets
------------------------------------------------------------
Although Durant is still at the top of his game, he still expects to be paid like it even at age 37. That could prove to be a big deal for San Antonio and a big problem for the Rockets.
Durant is expected to receive a 2-year, $122 million extension, which would pay him $61 million in his age 38 and 39 seasons. That is a massive amount for anyone, let alone someone nearing their 40s.
For comparison, San Antonio will pay De'Aaron Fox $57 million on average beginning in the 2026-27 season. The big difference is that Fox will be 28 by the time his extension kicks in and 32 by the time that it ends.
The Spurs will have to compete with Durant and the Rockets
----------------------------------------------------------
It's entirely possible that Durant will still be an elite player in 3 years, given how well he's played. But if his play suddenly falls off a cliff after signing what could be a massive extension, it could be a huge blow for the Rockets.
He could make as much as 35% of the cap, and signing a player to a deal like that is always a risk, even one with a long track record of being elite. At the very least, Spurs fans should consider themselves lucky they didn't trade for Durant given that he was never apparently interested in taking a pay cut.
Especially after Fox's extension and Victor Wembanyama's looming big payday. Betting on Wembanyama's potential ceiling as being the best player in the NBA and [Fox playing at an elite level](https://airalamo.com/deaaron-fox-give-victor-wembanyama-something-spurs-havent-had) while still in his 20s is a safer bet than Durant.
The Rockets may be better in the short term, but the Spurs will hopefully be better off in a year or two. Particularly if Durant fails to live up to what could be a massive extension.