The largest trade in NBA history was finalized on Sunday, sending Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets in a monumental seven-team deal involving 13 players. Durant leaves the Phoenix Suns to join last season’s Western Conference second seed, as Houston parts ways with Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th overall pick in the this year’s NBA draft, and five second-round picks in exchange for the future Hall of Famer.
Initially agreed upon in June, the trade between the Rockets and Suns grew to include a league-record seven teams: the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves. Now complete, the deal reshapes the Western Conference and positions Houston as a serious contender heading into the new season.
Durant, 36, spent three seasons with the Suns, averaging 26.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. Despite forming a star trio with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, the Suns never advanced past the second round of the playoffs during Durant’s tenure, a disappointing stretch for a team with championship aspirations.
Now, Durant joins a young Houston Rockets team that is coming off its first 50-win season since 2018. The Rockets finished the 2024–25 season with a 52–30 record and secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. However, they fell to the Golden State Warriors in a seven-game first-round series, exposing the team’s need for a go-to scoring threat. Durant, a two-time NBA champion, former MVP and Finals MVP, 15-time All-Star, and the only player in league history to average 25 points per game for four different franchises, fits that role perfectly. While he turns 37 in September, his scoring consistency remains elite.
The Rockets didn’t have to part with young cornerstone players like Alperen Şengün or Amen Thompson, preserving their long-term outlook while making a win-now trade. In addition to acquiring Durant, Houston has had a busy offseason, extending head coach Ime Udoka, forward Jabari Smith Jr., and center Steven Adams, while also signing veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency. With Durant in the fold and the core intact, Houston has positioned itself as a legitimate title contender.
Trade Details:
- Houston Rockets acquire: Kevin Durant, Clint Capela
- Phoenix Suns acquire: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Khaman Maluach (No. 10 overall), Rasheer Fleming (No. 31 overall), Koby Brea (No. 41 overall), Daeqwon Plowden, second-round pick
- Brooklyn Nets acquire: Two second-round picks
- Golden State Warriors acquire: Alex Toohey (No. 52 overall), Jahmai Mashack (No. 59 overall)
- Atlanta Hawks acquire: Second-round pick swap, David Roddy, cash
- Los Angeles Lakers acquire: Adou Thiero (No. 36 overall)
- Minnesota Timberwolves acquire: Rocco Zikarsky (No. 45 overall), two second-round picks, cash
My time in Phoenix has come to an end. All these stops along the journey have really impacted me in a positive way. Remeber it’s a world behind the scenes, and those who make things work in that space, work tirelessly to make our lives easier as players. I appreciate all the…
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) July 6, 2025
