Kevin Durant’s future in Houston isn’t a pressing matter, at least not yet.
According to a new report, the Rockets are not prioritizing an extension for the two-time Finals MVP this summer, instead focusing on other offseason business. While Durant remains a central piece of Houston’s title ambitions, both sides are reportedly content to take a patient approach before entering serious contract talks.
“There’s not a sense of urgency to get it done right now. The Rockets have other business that they need to handle this summer,” said ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “Primarily, the extension for Tari Eason. It was a big splash; it was a potential final piece that they needed to be a real-deal contender, that go-to guy they were sorely missing last season.”
As it stands, Kevin Durant is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, meaning that he could leave the Rockets after just one season with the team. While the 36-year-old legend is the Rockets’ best player (26.6 points per game last season), the organization is not rushing to commit the next five years to the 2x Finals MVP.
“They didn’t push all their chips in; they were very patient as far as the pursuit of a trade for Kevin Durant. They waited until the price was at a value that they felt was comfortable for them,” MacMahon continued. “Kevin Durant’s their best player, he’s not necessarily their priority. That’s not an insult to him, but their priority is making sure they have as long of a runway as possible while trying to cash in on this window that they created by getting Kevin Durant.”
On his way out of Phoenix, Kevin Durant was actively working to hand-select his next destination. Despite no promise of a max extension, he chose the Rockets and left his NBA future open-ended.
“Both sides want that to be more than a one-year window, but it’s not gonna be a max extension. If that was the priority for Kevin Durant, it would’ve been done in conjunction with the trade, and he probably wouldn’t have ended up in Houston. So, I think you’ll see both sides take a patient approach.”
Both sides are seemingly testing the waters on their next partnership. For Durant, he’s still unsure what this tenure in Houston might bring. While he’s optimistic about his team’s title chances, he has an out next summer if things go horribly wrong, and history tells us he won’t be shy about using it.
For the Rockets, it would normally be ideal to secure a superstar for as long as possible, but they are not entirely convinced about how he’ll fit with their younger roster. At nearly 40 years old, Houston isn’t willing to sacrifice the stability of their young core to appease Kevin Durant.
For both Durant and the Rockets, their entire partnership hinges on what happens in the 2025-26 campaign. If they can top their performance from last season and make a deep playoff run in the West, it could be all they need to agree on a long-term extension.
Ultimately, both sides are in a feeling-out process. Durant is betting on Houston to give him one last legitimate shot at a title, while the Rockets are betting that his star power can elevate their promising young roster. If this season delivers on that potential, the groundwork will be there for a longer commitment. If not, this could end up being just another short stop in Durant’s winding Hall of Fame journey.
