In a seismic summer move on June 22, 2025, the Houston Rockets have shed their rebuilding tag and made an all-in gamble for championship glory by acquiring 15-time All-Star, two-time Finals champion Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns. At 36, Durant remains one of the NBA’s most efficient scorers. Last season, he averaged 26.6 points per game on elite shooting splits (52.7 FG%, 43.0% 3-PT FG).
Trade Details
Houston Rockets Receive: Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns Receive: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 2025 No. 10 overall pick, 5 second-round picks
In return, Phoenix secures a blockbuster haul: promising guard Jalen Green, defensive wing Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick in 2025, plus five second-round picks. The trade marks a sharp pivot for both franchises, a “win-now” thrust for Houston and a strategic reset for a Suns team now flush with young talent and future draft capital.
This kind of franchise-defining blockbuster begs the question: Who truly came out on top? Let’s dive into it.
Houston Rockets: A
Houston finally acquires a proven go-to scorer in Kevin Durant without relinquishing their budding core. Core pieces Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and others remain intact, preserving both the team’s youth and long-term upside.
The only major asset lost is the No. 10 pick, a fair price given the transformative impact of a superstar scorer. Durant’s scoring efficiency (26.6 PPG on 57 FG%) offers a steady foundation, relieving younger players from having to “grow into” top-level production.
What’s more, pairing KD with coach Ime Udoka, who shares a history dating back to Durant’s stint in Brooklyn, creates a synergistic reunion that could accelerate offensive chemistry. The front office’s clarity (as Rafael Stone explicitly noted, they wouldn’t mortgage the future) shows disciplined ambition: shoot for a title without sacrificing long-term footing.
Phoenix Suns: B+
The Suns faced a stark reality: trade KD or risk losing him for nothing after next season, especially after his trade request. The haul, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 2025 No. 10 pick, plus five second-rounders, matches a reset strategy, injecting both talent and draft capital.
Green gives them a high-upside scorer; Brooks brings defensive grit. The pick and seconds bolster their flexibility in either drafting or packaging for other moves. Still, this isn’t a windfall. They didn’t land multiple rotation-level players, and Green, while talented, isn’t yet a star. Grade-wise, this lands at B+, a solid value for a 36-year-old rental, but not enough to call it a massive win.
Kevin Durant: A
Durant gets a fitting homecoming in Texas, where he can etch another chapter atop his storied resume as a former University of Texas legend. Playing as the lead scorer on a team with high-upside youth reinvigorates him, earning his last career chapters in a championship hunt gives both legacy and motivation.
Operationally, this is a dream fit: associating with a coach like Udoka, who elevates his inside-out game, and surrounded by defenders and runners, gives KD the perfect ecosystem to thrive in his twilight years. Grade A is well earned.
Jalen Green: B
Green arrives in Phoenix away from Houston’s growing spotlight, an opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to shape his own path. The Suns give him breathing room to refine consistency and defensive discipline, with less pressure than what was mounting in Houston.
His high pedigree (42-point explosion and franchise playoff record, 38 in Game 2) shows star potential. His time was up in Houston, but it could just be starting in Phoenix.
Given the context, a B fits: a fair landing spot for a talented but uneven 23-year-old, especially after Houston effectively pulled support. Now he’s theirs to develop, and a change of scenery could be exactly what he needs, although sharing the ball with Devin Booker could be somewhat of an issue.
Ime Udoka: A
Udoka’s coaching credentials just received a monumental boost. Landing Durant under his leadership gives him a certified offensive centerpiece, transforming Houston from a developmental squad to a championship-bound team.
Udoka’s inside-out offensive system meshes perfectly with KD’s game, promising strong results and a potent identity. He also maintains the developmental momentum of younger pieces by blending experience and youth.
Coaching both a generational scorer and rising players could elevate his standing as one of the NBA’s elite tacticians, hence an A-grade endorsement.
Dillon Brooks: C
Brooks brings hustle and All-NBA-quality perimeter defense, but comes with baggage. Known for his intensity and trash talk, he energizes, but teams seem not to value him as hard as he plays. His all-around play is solid, though not spectacular; he adds notable defensive value but little offensive upside.
Still, Houston didn’t hold onto him long, which hints at his surplus value in their reshuffle. Brooks might be feeling down that he got traded by both the Grizzlies and Rockets despite being their “enforcer”, but that is what comes with the brutal NBA game.
