Sources – Suns buying and selling Kevin Durant to Rockets in blockbuster deal
The Phoenix Suns have agreed on a blockbuster commerce, sending 15-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Inexperienced, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 choose on this yr’s draft and 5 second-round picks, sources informed ESPN on Sunday.
The commerce could be formally accomplished when the brand new league yr begins July 6.
Durant was on stage Sunday at Fanatics Fest on the Javits Heart in New York when information of the commerce settlement broke, with followers stunned by the announcement.
“Being a part of the Houston Rockets, I am wanting ahead to it,” Durant informed Kay Adams on Sunday. “Loopy, loopy final couple weeks, however I am glad it is over with.”
Along with getting two starters from the No. 2 seed within the Western Convention and a 2025 first-round choose, the 5 second-round picks headed to the Suns are the No. 59 choice on this yr’s draft, two in 2026, one in 2030 (from Boston) and one in 2032, sources informed ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Durant’s addition elevates the Rockets’ positioning for championship rivalry within the Western Convention, as he joins 2025 All-Star Alperen Sengun, rising two-way power Amen Thompson and veteran guard Fred VanVleet. Houston received 52 video games below coach Ime Udoka this season.
The deal additionally places Durant with considered one of his three most well-liked touchdown spots; the Miami Warmth and San Antonio Spurs had been the opposite two.
Durant mentioned he had an concept he could be traded to the Rockets however did not know when it was going to occur.
“That they had an important season final yr,” Durant informed Adams concerning the Rockets. “Love their management. I felt like I might be a superb addition.”
Durant and Udoka have a powerful relationship courting again to shared stints with the Brooklyn Nets and USA Basketball. Final week, Udoka agreed to a long-term contract extension with the Rockets that makes him one of many highest-paid coaches within the league.
Durant, who turns 37 in September, averaged 26.6 factors, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 62 video games this season. The long run Corridor of Famer has averaged no less than 25 factors, 50% area purpose capturing and 40% on 3-pointers in three straight seasons, the longest streak ever within the NBA, in accordance with ESPN Analysis.
Durant offers the Rockets a premier leap shooter and shot creator who suits seamlessly into the lineup. He shot an NBA-best 49.7% on jumpers and 53.1% on midrange photographs. He additionally had one of the best capturing share on off-the-dribble jumpers (50.9%), in accordance with GeniusIQ.
The Rockets ranked simply twenty seventh in efficient area purpose share on off-the-dribble jumpers and twenty fourth in efficient area purpose share on all jumpers, in accordance with GeniusIQ. The Rockets additionally ranked seventh in isolations per recreation this season however ranked simply twenty seventh in factors per direct isolation.
Against this, Durant is a potent shooter and nonetheless the most effective iso gamers within the league: He led the NBA in factors per direct isolation amongst gamers to run 200 isolations this season, in accordance with ESPN Analysis.
After information of the commerce settlement, Houston’s odds to win the NBA title subsequent season moved from 18-1 to +850 at ESPN BET. That is the second-best odds behind solely the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (+220). The Suns’ odds, in the meantime, fell from 100-1 to 300-1 at ESPN BET.
The Suns engaged in critical talks to maneuver Durant this week, primarily targeted on the Warmth, Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves, sources mentioned. A number of different wild-card suitors emerged as nicely — together with the Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets, sources mentioned. However with Durant on an expiring, $54.7 million contract and eligible for a brand new two-year extension after the commerce, the league’s marketplace for him clearly confirmed his means to dictate whether or not he wished to play for a franchise long run.
“[The Suns] wished me to go,” Durant informed Adams. “They received what they wished, and I received what I wished. We are able to transfer on, and good luck to them going ahead. At all times bear in mind my time there, however we’re on to one thing else.”
The Suns’ commerce conversations targeted on the Rockets and Warmth in latest days, however each groups confirmed an unwillingness to half with younger cornerstones equivalent to Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard (Houston) and Kel’el Ware (Miami) in a Durant deal, sources mentioned. The Warmth made a number of gives for Durant however finally turned down the chance to position Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, the No. 20 choose and different draft property in a deal, sources mentioned.
Inexperienced averaged a team-high 21 factors together with 4.6 rebounds and three.4 assists this season whereas capturing a career-best 35.4% from 3-point vary. The 23-year-old, who was the No. 2 choose within the 2021 draft, performed all 82 video games in every of the previous two seasons. He made 234 3-pointers this season, essentially the most in a marketing campaign by a Rockets participant since James Harden in 2019-20. He now groups with All-NBA star Devin Booker to type a high-powered backcourt of their 20s.
Brooks shot a career-best 39.7% on 3-pointers this season and ranked third in whole defensive matchups in opposition to 2025 All-Stars, in accordance with ESPN Analysis. For a Suns group that has acknowledged it desires to evangelise toughness and grit shifting ahead, with proprietor Mat Ishbia preaching a brand new tradition of “toughness,” Brooks has embodied such attributes all through his profession.
Durant joined the Suns in a February 2023 deadline commerce, and his 26.8 factors per recreation as a member of the franchise is essentially the most in Suns historical past. The Suns now have three first-round picks and eight second-rounders eligible to be traded, resetting and replenishing many of the property they traded once they moved 4 firsts for Durant.
The Suns went 36-46 this season and completed in eleventh place within the Western Convention with the best payroll in NBA historical past, resulting in organizational modifications that included the hiring of Brian Gregory as common supervisor and Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as their new head coach.