It had been rumored that the Rockets had their sights set on landing star forward Kevin Durant almost since their playoff run ended during the first round of the playoffs.
The rumor has now become a reality after the Rockets ignited the offseason with a blockbuster trade that lands them Durant in a players’ swap that sends young cornerstone Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the upcoming No.10 pick in the NBA Draft and five second-round selections to the Phoenix Suns, according to an ESPN report.
It’s a king’s ransom for the 36-year-old 15-time NBA All-Star.
But Rockets general manager Rafael Stone and owner Tilman Fertitta are clearly ready to speed up the rebuild to contend with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves for supremacy in the Western Conference.
This is the second big move for the Rockets this offseason after recently signing second-year coach Ime Udoka to a lucrative long-term contract.
Durant, a 17-year NBA veteran, gives the Rockets an elite scorer capable of hitting big baskets even at this late stage of his career. He is coming off a season in which he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting nearly 53% from the field.
Durant was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, and he ranks eighth among NBA career scoring leaders.
But there are also major risks in acquiring an aging veteran like Durant, who has had significant injuries during his career. Since leaving the Thunder in 2016, Durant’s two NBA titles came with a stacked Golden State Warriors team in 2017.
Following his stint in Golden State, Durant went to Brooklyn for a disappointing run and followed up with an uneventful two-year stay in Phoenix.
Durant, a one-and-done star with the Texas Longhorns, arguably had his best seasons in Oklahoma City, where he had the Thunder in contention, but he and Russell Westbrook couldn’t get them a championship.
Will Durant be able to lift a talented but relatively young Rockets roster into NBA title contention? That’s the million-dollar question. The Rockets have young potential stars like Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith and Tari Eason, whom he must lead and show how to win in the postseason.
The Rockets made their first playoff appearance this season after four straight NBA Lottery campaigns.
But Stone is willing to gamble that he will. He shipped away Green, the cornerstone of the post-James Harden era, for Durant. Given the potential upside on Green, who has shown flashes of greatness since the Rockets drafted him No.2 overall during the 2021 NBA Draft, it’s a considerable risk.
Green averaged 21 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and shot 42% from the field this season. But he had a disappointing first appearance in the playoffs against the Warriors.
There had been rumors that the Suns originally wanted Jabari Smith and Amen Thompson as part of the Durant package, but Stone declined. There were also rumors that the Rockets were interested in trading with Milwaukee for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The trade for Durant will not be official until July 6, when the NBA begins its new business year.
