Durant Traded to the Rockets

S. Samek

While everyone was focused on game seven of the NBA finals yesterday, two teams decided it was a great day to make a big trade.

Phoenix and Houston made a deal yesterday. Houston sent Jalen Green, Dillion Brooks, the number 10 pick in this year’s draft and five future second-round picks to Phoenix. In exchange the Rockets receive Kevin Durant.

Durant is a big name and a 15-time NBA all-star. He is also a two-time NBA finals MVP. He got back a big return from Phoenix.

Did Houston overpay? To me it seems like they did a bit. Two players and six picks are a lot even for a player of Durant’s caliber.

The question is though is it enough to push Houston into the top spot in the Western Conference? Will this move be enough to help the Rockets go from second seed in the West to the top seed? Can they compete more with Oklahoma City the now NBA champions next season? Will it actually help them avoid a first round exit like this year?

I would say it’s worth a shot. It should be interesting to see who else Houston adds in the offseason to pair with Durant.

Could this move be a jumpstart to a rebuild in Phoenix? After the Suns missed the playoffs with an 11th place finish this year will this trade be what they need to get back into the playoffs? What could their offseason look like? It should be interesting to see who they select with the number 10 pick they now hold as well.

While I feel like Houston did get an All-Star I have to give the edge to Phoenix slightly in this deal. Especially if a couple of the draft picks pan out. It was a good quantity haul. You can vote for who you think won the trade in the poll below.

Update 7/6/25: This deal changed a good bit. Durant and Clint Capela are headed to Houston. Phoenix gets Green, Brooks, Khaman Maluach,Rasheer Fleming, Koby Brea, Daeqwon Plowden a 2026 second-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick.

The Nets join the trade getting a 2026 second-round pick and a 2030 second-round pick. The Warriors get Alex Toohey and Jahmai Mashack.

The Hawks acquire David Roddy, a 2031 second-round pick and cash. The Lakers obtain Adou Thiero and cash in the deal. The Timberwolves are the last team included and acquired Rocco Zikarsky,a 2026 second-round pick, a 2032 second round pick and cash in the trade.

The seven-team deal is the record for biggest number of teams involved in a trade passing a six-team deal last summer. Could this lead to more deals like this in the future? Did a new team win this deal, or was it still Pheonix, or Houston winning the trade?