Insider believes Kevin Durant closer to winning title than Stephen Curry, LeBron James

Windhorst pointed to the Lakers needing a starting center, as well as five-time All-Star Luka Doncic having a chance to extend his contract.

ESPN NBA front office insider Bobby Marks took the same stance, but seemed a little more certain with Durant. 

"I think it's Kevin Durant because whenever you make a trade for a top-10 player, and Kevin Durant is still a top-10 player, you are essentially gutting your roster with players and draft picks," Marks said. "And no offense to Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green and the 10th pick in the draft, you still have Fred Vanvleet, who the likelihood is that they're going to work out a new contract, Alperen Segun, Jabari Smith. You still have the pieces there and you have all these draft picks to go out and do another move. So for me, I look at it (as) Kevin Durant in Houston."

Since head coach Ime Udoka has taken over for Houston, the Rockets have gone from the bottom of the Western Conference to a playoff team without Durant. With the veteran Durant paired with double-double machine Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. and talented guard Amen Thompson, the Rockets have a roster capable of contending.

Houston went 52-30 during the regular season and took the Warriors to a decisive Game 7 in the opening round of the playoffs, only to fall short. Adding Durant to the mix should only take this team to another level. According to FanDuel, Houston is tied with the New York Knicks for the third-best odds (+900) to win the 2025-26 NBA title, only trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder (+210) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (+800).

The upcoming draft and offseason moves will provide a better indicator of where the Warriors, Lakers and Rockets fare with each of their star players and the roster surrounding them.

At this time, the consensus is that Durant is in a prime position to win his third NBA title with a young and talented supporting cast around him.