The worst stored secret within the NBA has lastly been resolved. Kevin Durant is a Houston Rocket, and the Phoenix Suns are getting again solely a fraction of what they initially traded to get him.
The Rockets acquired Durant for the No. 10 decide within the 2025 NBA Draft, Jalen Inexperienced, Dillon Brooks, and 5 second spherical picks, based on Shams Charania. Houston gained out over a bid from the Miami Warmth. The deal reunites Durant with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, who was an assistant for the Brooklyn Nets when Durant was there.
Durant turns 37 years previous earlier than subsequent season as he enters year-19 within the NBA, however he’s nonetheless an elite shooter and scorer. Durant averaged 26.6 factors, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per sport on wonderful 64.2 p.c true capturing with 43 p.c three-point capturing. He joins a Rockets crew that completed No. 2 within the West in the course of the common season with 52 wins, however misplaced to the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors within the first spherical of the playoffs.
Let’s grade this deal from each side.
Rockets grade for Kevin Durant commerce
The Rockets gained with protection and rebounding this previous season, however their offense was an eyesore a lot of the time. Houston completed No. 12 in offensive score, No. 27 in three-point price, and No. 21 in three-point proportion. Kevin Durant immediately addresses all three areas.
Durant stays an elite spot-up shooter even this late into his profession. He can shoot excessive of any defender with an unlimited 7’5 wingspan, and it’s often money when it leaves his arms. Zach LaVine was the one participant within the NBA this season to shoot a greater proportion from three-point vary whereas taking as many makes an attempt as Durant did.
Durant nonetheless takes a ton of mid-range photographs, too. He makes 53.7 p.c of his mid-range photographs, which ranks within the 96th percentile of the league. It’s felt like Durant ought to in all probability commerce in a some middies for a couple of extra threes in recent times, however his mid-range scoring will probably be a giant assist for Houston within the playoffs when groups want extra shot versatility to attain successfully.
Houston actually didn’t hand over a lot on this deal. Inexperienced is definitely a foul contract with three years, $105 million remaining on his deal. Inexperienced has been an inefficient scorer since coming into the league, and it might be addition-by-subtraction simply taking him out of the lineup, not to mention changing him with Kevin freaking Durant. The Rockets additionally retained all of their greatest younger gamers this deal. Amen Thompson was at all times going to be off limits, however getting this deal executed with out together with Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and even Cam Whitmore is a big win for Houston.
It felt like the best star for the Rockets can be extra of a shot-creator than a play-finisher. Durant is extra of the latter than the previous at this level. Nonetheless, getting an elite shooter like KD with out a lot going out within the deal is an superior transfer for Houston. Durant usually goes for large hauls when he’s traded, and that isn’t the case this time. The massive query now turns into what occurs with Durant’s contract as he enters the ultimate yr of his deal. He’ll desire a two-year, $120 million max extension.
It’s exhausting to say how impactful KD will probably be in year-19 of his profession, however his capturing can at all times be counted on. The Rockets received considerably higher with this deal whereas shedding a foul contract. That is pretty much as good because it will get.
Grade: A
Suns grade for Kevin Durant commerce
The Suns have been by no means going to have the ability to commerce Durant for as a lot as they traded to get him. Phoenix was in powerful place after they did not make the playoffs with the best payroll in league historical past. The most effective transfer for the Suns’ future would have been buying and selling Devin Booker for an even bigger bundle, however Phoenix was firm to carry onto him. With a disappointing commerce bundle coming again for Durant, it appears like Phoenix has little hope for the current or the subsequent few years.
Inexperienced is a negative-impact participant, at the least earlier than the calendar turns to March. He takes a ton of dangerous photographs, he’s a poor defender, and he doesn’t influence the sport as a rebounder. The previous No. 2 total decide within the 2021 draft, Inexperienced has shot simply 34 p.c from three in his profession. It offers the Suns one other capturing guard on a roster that already consists of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal as key items.
The No. 10 decide the Suns are getting on this commerce was the decide that initially belonged to them. Phoenix has been operating the group with an obvious Michigan State bias, and will goal Spartans guard Jase Richardson with that choice. The decide is one of the best a part of this bundle by far. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Phoenix attempt to commerce Inexperienced and Brooks for future belongings, although there are already insider reviews that they’ll preserve Inexperienced.
Not even getting Sheppard on this deal is a big bummer for Phoenix. The Suns don’t management their first-round draft decide till 2032, they usually stay saddled with Beal’s enormous contract for 2 extra seasons. The Suns are within the worst place within the NBA, and their refusal to commerce Booker to recoup belongings is solely delusional.
There’s no path for Phoenix to compete within the West anytime quickly, and the almost definitely state of affairs is Booker indicators an enormous extension after which asks out when he’s older and has much less worth. The Suns couldn’t have performed this worse, beginning with overpaying for Durant after which making the disastrous Beal commerce, and Jusuf Nurkic deal. The Suns are in basketball hell, and their solely salvation can be hitting a house run with this No. 10 decide.
The Suns traded 4 unprotected future first-round picks, Mikal Bridges, and Cam Johnson to get Durant. The Suns gained precisely one playoff sequence with Durant on the roster. They have been swept out of the first-round in 2024, and did not make the playoffs in 2025. Phoenix took a giant swing for KD underneath new proprietor Mat Ishbia, and it failed spectacularly. Now the franchise is about to be caught within the NBA desert for an extended, very long time.
Suns grade: D
