PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 28: Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the second half of … More
The Houston Rockets have acquired Kevin Durant in a blockbuster deal with the Phoenix Suns that they hope will move the organization closer to an NBA championship.
The Suns are getting Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft and five second-round picks, said a person with direct knowledge of the deal who was not authorized to speak publicly for the Rockets.
“It’s done,” the person said.
ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news.
The San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves were among the other teams linked to Durant, who will make $54.7 million next season. Durant was reportedly also interested in the Knicks, but the franchise did not want to trade for him.
Durant can sign an extension with the Rockets for up to two years and $122.1 million starting on July 6, per NBA salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan. He would earn $59.5 million in the 2026-27 season and $62.5 million in 2027-28.
“He could extend for less to help them build a stronger roster, but have more flexibility to fit it with Green and Brooks gone,” he wrote on social media.
Durant, a two-time NBA Finals MVP and the 2014 NBA MVP, turns 37 in September. Houston will be his sixth franchise after stints with the Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix.
With more than 30,000 points, Durant is currently the eighth leading scorer in NBA history.
He averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 62 games this past season in Phoenix.
Despite assembling a “Big 3” of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, the Suns failed to make the NBA playoffs last season, causing coach Mike Budenholzer to be fired in April.
In Houston, Durant will join a young core featuring Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, and Tari Eason. All were 22 or younger when last season began.
The Suns, meantime, now feature a backcourt featuring Green, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and Booker.
Green, 23, averaged 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season as the Rockets earned the No. 2 seed in the West.
Brooks, 29, averaged 14.0 points and 3.7 rebounds.
