Kevin Durant is set to swap Arizona for Texas, with ESPN reporting on Sunday that the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets have agreed a trade for the 36-year-old.
According to ESPN, the Suns will receive Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No 10 pick in this year’s draft and five second-round picks in return for Durant. If the trade goes ahead it will be formally completed when the new league year starts on 6 July.
News of the trade emerged when Durant was on stage at Fanatics Fest in New York City. Durant smiled as people in the crowd learned of the reports. “We’re gonna see, man,” Durant told fans at the event. “We’re gonna see.”
Durant’s best years are behind him but he still averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Suns in 62 games in 2024-25. He is a 15-time All-Star, four-time scoring champion and was NBA MVP in 2014.
The Rockets would be Durant’s fifth team after the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. He won two titles with the Warriors and was also NBA finals MVP twice during his time in California.
Last season was a disappointing one for the Suns, who finished with a 36-46 record, despite having the highest payroll in the NBA. The Rockets, meanwhile, finished second in the Western Conference but were eliminated by the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. Despite that setback they are seen as a rising force in the Western Conference under the leadership of coach Ime Udoka and young stars such as Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, who was an All-Star for the first time this season. According to ESPN, the Rockets were Durant’s favored destination along with the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs.
Durant, who will turn 37 in September, has one year left on his current contract and is due to earn $54.7m next season. He can sign a two-year extension worth up to $122m when the new league year starts in July.
Durant has played in Texas before: he was a member of the Texas Longhorns in college before he was taken as the No 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft.
