How Blockbuster Kevin Durant Trade To Intrastate Rival Affects Dallas Mavericks

In a blockbuster trade, Kevin Durant has been traded to intrastate rival of the Dallas Mavericks, and the Houston Rockets have found the scoring that they sorely lacked in their playoff time last season.

Kevin Durant, a two-time NBA champion, former Most Valuable Player winner, and a 15-time All-Star, joins a Houston Rockets team that had a very impressive season last year. He brings so many things to this team that the Mavericks will have to learn how to defend multiple times a year in the regular season.

The trade breaks down as such:

Houston Rockets receive: Kevin Durant

Phoenix Suns receive: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the number 10 pick in this year's draft, and five second-round picks

Jalen Green was a dynamic player for the Rockets and always showed out against the Mavericks. He averaged 17.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in his 16 games against Dallas throughout his career. However, during the playoffs, he virtually disappeared at times, leaving Houston with the need to find some consistency on the offensive end.

Perhaps another underrated effect on the Mavericks is the trading of Dillon Brooks. Brooks, throughout his career, has been somewhat of a nuisance, and his physical nature on the defensive end has caused some Mavericks in the past to be thrown off their game. Brooks going to Phoenix will lower the number of times they have to face him throughout the regular season.

Ultimately, Durant does pose a different threat for sure for Dallas. In his 51 games against the Mavericks, he has averaged 25.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. It remains to be seen how this will impact the Dallas Mavericks and their chances of making the playoffs this year. However, one thing is for certain: their intrastate rival definitely looks to be firing on all cylinders offensively with this move.