Did the Houston Rockets fix their biggest problem with the Kevin Durant trade?
Houston dug deep into its chest of future assets to acquire Durant earlier from the Phoenix Suns. The Rockets sent the Suns’ leading scorer Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 1o pick in 2025, and five second-round selections. According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7, the Rockets’ second-round picks are the No. 59 pick this year, two choices in 2026, and two additional selections in 2030 (Boston) and 2032 (Houston).
Even though Houston and Phoenix have agreed to the trade, it can’t be finalized until July 6, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Marks mentioned the poison pill in Green’s contract is holding up the deal.
Is Kevin Durant The Answer For The Rockets? What Is Next After the Trade?
Houston accomplished a lot this past season. The Rockets snapped a four-year playoff drought, finishing with a 51-31 record that was good enough for the second-best record in the West. However, the Rockets were upset in the first round by the Golden State Warriors.
Owning a top-10 defense, Houston was only average offensively despite having seven players who averaged 12 points a game. While the Rockets weren’t a good shooting team, their biggest problem was not having a go-to guy. Not having a true No. 1 scorer was particularly evident against the Warriors.
Houston shot 44.6% from the field and 37.4% from deep in the opening round. Alperen Sengun was the Rockets’ best player in the series, averaging over 20 points per game, although he was not particularly efficient. Amen Thompson was also excellent, but like Sengun, he did most of his damage close to the basket. Fred VanVleet finished with good numbers, though that was mainly due to his shooting prowess over the final four games of the series.
Meanwhile, Green was awful for much of the series. Green scored in double figures in three of the seven games against the Warriors. Green scored 38 points in Game 2 of the series, although 12 points was his most thereafter. He finished the series with 13.3 points with shooting splits of 37.2/29.5/66.7.
What Durant Brings To Houston
While Durant is somewhat of a malcontent, there is no question about his basketball prowess. Despite being 36, Durant is a bucket waiting to happen. He can score from anywhere on the court.
Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 62 games for the Suns last season. Durant, who compiled five double-doubles, knocked down 2.6 3-pointers with a shooting split of 52.7/39/83.9. He scored 20 or more points 54 times, including topping the 30-point plateau 21 times with two 40-point games.
So, yes, Durant will easily be the Rockets’ top offensive threat. While the Rockets traded for Durant’s shot-creating and making ability, his presence should create easier scoring opportunities for Sengun in the post. Also, Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. should have bigger lanes to operate on drives or dives to the basket.
Durant will help the Rockets besides just scoring. Durant will likely share the primary offensive facilitator role with Thompson. He is an excellent passer. He also gives the Rockets another weapon in transition to go along with Thompson, Smith, Cam Whitmore, and Tari Eason. The Rockets were one of the best teams on the break, averaging 17 fastbreak points per contest.
What Is Next For The Rockets?
Since Houston doesn’t have a draft pick this year, the Rockets can now start preparing to finalize their roster immediately. The Rockets have 13 players under contract with a roster cap hit of $203.5 million. Their first big decision following the trade is forthcoming as they must decide whether to exercise Fred VanVleet‘s $44.8 million team option.
Houston has until June 29 to determine VanVleet’s status. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported earlier in the month that there was mutual interest between the Rockets and VanVleet. My guess is that the Rockets will work out a more team-friendly multi-year extension for VanVleet, allowing the team to add to their roster.
What I don’t expect the Rockets to do is let VanVleet walk. So, if the Rockets and VanVleet can’t work out a suitable extension (which is highly unlikely), they have other ways to save cap room. The Rockets can save money by not exercising Aaron Holiday‘s ($4.9 million) team option and waiving Jock Landale, who has an $8 million nonguaranteed deal. Both decisions are due June 29.
Just by releasing Holiday and Landale, it would move the Rockets below the first apron. The Rockets would be about $17 million below the second apron with 10 players under standard contracts. They could also shave another $2.27 million off the books by waiving Nate Williams, whose $2.27 million deal guarantees on opening night. Expect the Rockets to keep Williams at least until later in the offseason.
Let’s work on the premise that the Rockets will have about $17 million to sign four or five players. The Rockets, who have the $5.6 million taxpayer exception available to them, will be hard-capped at the second apron once the trade goes through.
Houston’s most significant need heading into the offseason will be to add wing depth and another big man, if Landale leaves. The Rockets could also bring back Holiday and Landale on cheaper deals. David Roddy, a candidate to get one of the Rockets’ standard deals, is the only player on a two-way contract for 2025-26.
Other Decisions
After July 6, one of Houston’s most pressing needs will be to extend Durant. Durant, on an expiring $54.7 million deal, will be eligible for a two-year extension worth roughly $122 million, per Marks. Marks added that if Durant waited until January, he could add about $4 million to the deal.
Eason and Smith Jr. are eligible for an extension on July 1. Since the Rockets weren’t willing to give up Smith Jr., expect the 22-year-old to get an extension. Back in May, The Athletic reported that team sources indicated the Rockets were hopeful about keeping both players in the fold for years to come.
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