HOUSTON — In a stunning turn of events just hours before Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Houston Rockets have landed future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with the Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN.
The Rockets will send Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick in this week’s NBA Draft, and five second-round picks to Phoenix in exchange for the two-time NBA champion and 2014 league MVP. The move marks Durant’s fifth NBA team and could drastically accelerate Houston’s return to playoff contention.
The Durant Era Ends in Phoenix
Durant, 35, joined the Suns at the 2023 trade deadline as part of a massive deal under new owner Mat Ishbia, who sent Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, and a massive haul of first-round picks to Brooklyn. The goal? Deliver Phoenix its first-ever NBA title.
Instead, the Suns were bounced in the second round by Denver in 2023, swept by Minnesota in 2024, and failed to even qualify for the 2025 postseason. The high-profile trio of Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker never reached its full potential — and now that era ends with a pivot toward asset accumulation.
Rockets Swing Big
Houston has made it clear: the rebuild is over.
By landing Durant, the Rockets are sending a powerful message that they’re ready to contend. The price was steep — giving up promising young scorer Jalen Green, defensive specialist Dillon Brooks, and high draft capital — but it lands them a transformational talent to pair with rising stars like Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr.
It’s a bold move for general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka, who now have a legitimate franchise anchor in Durant — even as he enters his 18th NBA season.
Behind the Scenes: A Long Time Coming
Durant was nearly dealt at the trade deadline in February, with Phoenix reportedly exploring a three-team deal that would have sent him back to the Golden State Warriors and brought in Jimmy Butler. Durant, however, vetoed a return to the Bay Area, opting to finish the season in Phoenix.
“I get why you want to trade me… but for me, it just doesn’t make sense for either side,” Durant said then.
Now, the move comes in dramatic fashion — breaking while Durant was on stage at Fanatics Fest in New York, and as his first NBA team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, prepare for a potential franchise-first title in Game 7 of the Finals against the Indiana Pacers.
What’s Next?
Durant’s arrival vaults Houston into the Western Conference playoff conversation — if not the title picture — depending on health and further roster moves. For Phoenix, the move signals a hard reset after two chaotic seasons and heavy luxury tax penalties.
If this truly marks Durant’s final chapter, it’s a fittingly unpredictable twist for one of the game’s most complex superstars. A new city, a new challenge — and one more chance to chase a ring.
