New NBA Intel Suggests Houston Rockets Could Sign Kevin Durant to Extension Below Max

New NBA intel suggests the Houston Rockets could sign Kevin Durant to an extension below the max.

According to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports, the Rockets may sign Durant to a two-year, $100 million contract. That would be under the max, as Durant can extend with Houston for up to two years, $122 million.

One of the best players in NBA history, Durant will make $54.7 million next season in the final year of his contract. 

“One source who spoke to NBC Sports during Summer League suggested KD might dip to about the $100 million mark for two years, around $10 million a season below the max but still $50 million a season,” Helin wrote. 

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, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists last season in 62 games. The future Hall of Famer shot 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line for the Suns, who missed the playoffs.

Houston made the postseason last season for the first time since 2020. They lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round in seven games.

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka worked with Durant when the two were with the Brooklyn Nets in 2020-21. They have a strong 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 with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Warriors, Nets and Suns. He won back-to-back championships and Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018 with the Warriors. 

Durant turns 37 in September. He has won only two playoff series (2021, 2023) since leaving the Warriors in 2019. KD is a four-time scoring champion and a one-time MVP.