Well, it’s official. Kevin Durant is finally moving on to his next destination, and it’s not the San Antonio Spurs or the Miami Heat. The Phoenix Suns had just traded the two-time Finals MVP to the Houston Rockets in exchange for a rising star. While NBA fans are ecstatic to see KD in red, some believe that the Suns got fleeced after what they actually got in the blockbuster trade.
A Bigger Trade in the Offseason: Rockets Win the Kevin Durant Lottery
After a very disappointing season, Phoenix finally got rid of Durant and sent the former MVP to Houston. In return, they received an athletic rising star, Jalen Green, with Dillon Brooks, the secured 10th pick of the 2025 NBA draft, and five second-round picks.
Even before the NBA Finals concluded, the Suns and the Rockets concocted a blockbuster trade that sent shockwaves across the league, even making the Desmond Bane trade seem non-existent.
Who Actually Won This Trade?
In hindsight, the Houston Rockets look even more promising with Durant at the helm. Not only did they keep their young core—Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. —intact, but they also added a generational scoring machine in their roster, bolstering their chances of dominating in the Western Conference.
During the 2025 playoffs, the Rockets, despite being the second seed in the West, were humiliated in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. Their playoff experience, or rather the lack thereof, was evident against the former champs, especially against Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green. Putting Kevin Durant on an already well-rounded group with a solid set of young rising stars and future superstars could put Houston back on the map. Last season, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, while also shooting an efficient 43% from the three-point line.
On the other hand, the Phoenix Suns seem like they’re collecting shooting guards and not doing anything to improve their depth. Fans thought they could get a better package for a player like KD, but they obviously didn’t. Their biggest issue last season was how they lack a legitimate point guard and center. Now, with Jalen Green onboard, the Valley has five shooting guards—Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Grayson Allen. What’s even more hilarious is that almost all these guys have the same play style. It would be funny if Dillon Brooks completes that starting lineup as their center
In addition, that no.10 pick wouldn’t do so much next season, considering that the 2025 draft class is a bit weak, even with Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey. Moreover, those second-round picks won’t be that reliable, unless they get lucky like the Denver Nuggets in 2014 after drafting Nikola Jokic in no. 41. The Suns could also potentially lose Booker soon, especially with the type of team they have right now. Unfortunately, they’ll be left with Beal, a dead weight of a player, and hope he stays healthy and provides some help on offense next season.
Overall, the Phoenix Suns got outplayed by the Houston Rockets. One team makes a super risky move, which probably wouldn’t pay off until lightning strikes, while the other significantly increases their chances of winning the championship.
The Bigger Picture
Although the Rockets may have won that trade, still nobody knows how Durant would impact the culture in H-town. In their 2024-2025 campaign, the Houston Rockets were insanely good on both ends of the floor. Just a few years after James Harden left, they’re back again in playoff contention after an incredible rebuild. Jalen Green is a good athlete, but it seems the front office doesn’t think of him as a cornerstone of the franchise, especially how he performed in this year’s playoffs.
Durant may just be the final piece they’re looking for. However, the 15-time All-Star hasn’t really found success since his stint in Golden State. Before Houston, he’s been with a couple of super teams, which all failed miserably. With Durant’s bitter-sweet reputation, who knows how this move would affect the Rockets’ exceptional roster and chemistry, something they’ve built for many years.
Sure, he’s a lethal scorer, an above-average defender, and one of the best to ever play the sport, but will he be worth it in the long run?
