Blockbuster Deal: Kevin Durant Moves to Houston

• On June 22, 2025, the Phoenix Suns agreed to trade Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets.
• In return, Phoenix receives:Jalen GreenDillon BrooksNo. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA DraftFive future second-round picks
• The trade officially closes on July 6, when the new NBA league year begins.

🔁 What This Means

• For Houston:
  • They add a 36-year-old MVP-caliber scorer (26.6 PPG last season, still ultra‑efficient) to an already ascending core that finished second in the West.
  • Reunion with Coach Ime Udoka—Durant’s former coach in Brooklyn and on Team USA—boosts fit and chemistry.
  • Trades off backcourt depth—Green and Brooks averaged ~65 combined minutes—but frees opportunities for young players like Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, and Cam Whitmore.
• For Phoenix:
  • Moves on from a failed “Big 3” experiment that included Durant, Booker, and Beal, following a disappointing 36–46 season, missing the playoffs.
  • Gains salary flexibility (Durant carries $54.7M cap hit next season) and accumulates draft assets—restoring a first-rounder and adding five seconds.
  • Faces tough decisions on roster direction—could pivot around Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, or go full rebuild.

⏳ Next Steps

• July 6: The trade becomes official with the opening of the new league year.
• Houston: Must integrate Durant into their system and determine extensions—he’ll be eligible for a two-year, $122M extension.
• Phoenix: Begins reshaping its roster—draft maneuvering, potential player moves, and charting a new course without Durant.