The Houston Rockets have been rumored to be in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes for months. Rumors have been swirling for weeks on where the superstar will land after his time in Phoenix ended with him missing the playoffs. On Sunday, the Rockets made sure the rumors would end. Houston landed Durant in a blockbuster trade, sending Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and some picks back to Phoenix.
Houston Rockets Land Kevin Durant
BREAKING: The Phoenix Suns are trading two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/EwrbA2ES9O
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2025
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the deal is done. The Houston Rockets receive Durant. The Suns get former second overall pick Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s draft. Additionally, the Rockets are sending five second-round picks to the Suns. It is a far cry from the massive number of first-round picks Phoenix gave up to get Durant, but at least they get a return on investment. At first glance, who won the trade?
Who Won This Trade?
The Houston Rockets had a glut of talent on the roster. They could afford to give up Green, who had had his ups and downs with the team. Brooks was solid but has some serious flaws in his game. Houston has plenty of talent, including the lottery pick doesn’t hurt their long term outlook. It’s a win-now move for Houston, which has the infrastructure to make a serious run in the Western Conference.
For Phoenix, they get a little bit of a reset. They get a young player who has shown scoring ability in Green as well as a boatload of picks to either take some swings on players or include in more trade packages.
Final Thoughts
Houston becomes extremely interesting right now. Can they get to a championship next year in a tough Western Conference?
