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Blockbuster 3-Team NBA Trade Idea Sends Kevin Durant To Rockets

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated May 20, 2025 12:20 PM ET

After the Phoenix Suns fired Mike Budenholzer as head coach, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Kevin Durant and the Suns were expected to work together on a trade this summer.

Durant, 36, has one year left on his contract. The Suns missed the playoffs this year and were so bad that they didn't even qualify for the play-in tournament.

With it being widely known that Durant could be traded this summer, Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposed a three-team trade between the Suns, Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards.

Favale's trade idea has Durant ending up on the Rockets.

Phoenix Suns Receive: Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., No. 10 pick, 2026 first-round pick (their own, via Washington), 2027 first-round pick (their own, via Houston)

Houston Rockets Receive: Kevin Durant

Washington Wizards Receive: Jock Landale (into Jonas Valančiūnas traded player exception), No. 29 pick, 2029 first-round pick (least favorable of Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah)

Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Suns this season while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from 3 and 83.9% from the free-throw line. He turns 37 in the fall.

"Durant remains magnificent," Favale wrote. "His ability to impact an offense as either a featured option or an off-ball threat is nearly unparalleled. Sure, his age is a concern, and he's entering the final year of his deal. But he'd vault Houston's offense into the contender's circle, and his next deal may not be for full max money."

A future Hall of Famer, Durant has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. He's a two-time champion, a two-time Finals MVP, a one-time MVP and a four-time scoring champion.

Durant will make $54.7 million next season. He doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract.

The Rockets made the playoffs this year for the first time since 2020. They lost to the Warriors in the first round in seven games.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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