Kevin Durant, Rockets Could Discuss Extension In July, August

The Rockets traded Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick in this year’s NBA Draft and five second-round picks to the Phoenix Suns for Durant, who averaged 26.6 points this season while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line.

Houston now has a strong core of Durant, Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. and Fred VanVleet.

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka worked with Durant when the two were with the Brooklyn Nets in 2020-21. They have a good relationship. 

A 15-time All-Star, Durant has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 1,123 NBA games. He won back-to-back titles and Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018 with the Golden State Warriors. 

According to NBA insiders Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic, Durant is “incredibly excited” about getting traded to the Rockets. 

“According to a source close to Durant, the future Hall of Famer is ‘incredibly excited’ about the opportunity to join a contender in Houston, surrounded by a talented coaching staff and top-five defensive unit,” Iko and Amick wrote. “The news broke just as he was being interviewed in New York for Fanatics Fest, with the 14-time All-Star letting out a huge grin in front of hundreds of adoring fans.

“Durant has one season remaining on his current contract (worth $54.7 million). Yet while he may not sign an extension when he’s eligible in July, team sources said there is a strong belief that this will be a long-term partnership. On paper, the Rockets’ potential looks extremely promising.”