After steep price and with help from 6 teams, Rockets land Durant
HOUSTON—The Rockets knew Kevin Durant wouldn’t come cheap. But few in NBA circles expected the cost to be this steep.
To land the 15-time All-Star forward, Houston orchestrated a seven-team blockbuster—the largest trade in league history—requiring the cooperation of nearly a quarter of the league. And the final price tag? A stunning exodus of young players, future assets and salary cap gymnastics that underscored just how far the franchise was willing to go to inject championship pedigree.
At the heart of the deal, Houston shipped out rising Canadian wing Dillon Brooks and electric scorer Jalen Green—players once touted as the Rockets’ future—to satisfy Phoenix’s demands. Also heading to the Suns: the rights to the 10th overall pick, 18-year-old center Khaman Maluach, part of the club’s long-term rebuild, and a supporting cast of role players acquired from trade partners Atlanta, Minnesota and Golden State.
“There were a lot of moving parts,” Rockets general manager Rafael Stone admitted in a statement. “Kevin impacts the game on both ends of the court, and we believe his skill set will integrate seamlessly with what we’re building.”
Durant, who turns 37 in September, becomes the centerpiece of a franchise desperate to reestablish itself among the Western Conference elite. Though he spent just over a year in Phoenix—arriving in a massive deal with Brooklyn that also cost the Suns multiple first-round picks—Durant left a brief but memorable mark.
“My time in Phoenix has come to an end,” he posted on social media. “All these stops have impacted me in a positive way. Houston, can’t wait!”
Behind the scenes, the trade demanded a delicate chain reaction. Atlanta re-signed Clint Capela and routed him back to Houston, filling the Rockets’ need for a veteran rim protector. Brooklyn extracted two future second-round picks and flipped rookie Adou Thiero to the Lakers. Minnesota picked up two Suns draft picks and teenage Australian center Rocco Zikarsky.
Even Golden State got involved, shipping out the rights to guards Alex Toohey and Jahmai Mashack in exchange for long-term flexibility.
The Suns, meanwhile, traded star power for depth and youth. They ended up with an eclectic haul headlined by Maluach and Green, hoping fresh legs and upside will sustain them after their short-lived superteam era.
For Houston, the question isn’t just whether Durant has enough left to lift them into contention, but whether the sacrifice of so many young assets will be worth it.
