By this time tomorrow Kevin Durant could potentially be traded to the Houston Rockets. This blockbuster, $40 billion deal has sent shockwaves through the sports community! The blockbuster deal comes on the heels of Durant’s resounding success with the Suns. He was indispensable in the team’s back-to-back playoff seasons. The Suns faced challenges in recent seasons, culminating in a disappointing 2024-25 campaign that saw them finish with a 36-46 record, the lowest win total since the 2019-20 season.
Durant’s path to Houston started with the Phoenix Suns trading for him. This transaction occurred literally at the 2022-23 trade deadline, as he was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets. In his three-year tenure with the Suns, he helped take the team to the second round of the playoffs in 2023. Sadly, that 2023 success was fleeting, as the team in 2024 fell to a first-round exit in the playoffs. The effort was ineffective, and the next campaign turned out to be even more difficult—with early-season tensions sparking talk about Durant’s departure from the franchise.
In the run-up to this big trade, the Suns were almost exclusively talking with the Houston Rockets. For three days, they held interviews and discussions with the Miami Heat, executing a site visit in 24 hours. They compromised on an inclusionary agreement that included Durant. That part of the deal forced Houston to send the Rockets’ own 10th pick in the 2025 draft as well as five second-round picks. This exchange underscores both teams’ ambitions, as the Rockets seek to solidify their roster and the Suns look to rebuild.
When the declaration of Durant’s trade broke on social media, it ignited a wildfire across all social media platforms as star athletes and sports personalities reacted. High profile athletes including Isaiah Thomas, Giannis Antetokounmpo, JJ Watt and Vernon Maxwell weighed in on Twitter. Even Jeremy Sochan and SportsCenter couldn’t wait to react to the trade. They focused on how this relocation could permanently impact the future for each franchise in a major way.
Vernon Maxwell welcomed Durant to Houston, emphasizing the excitement surrounding his arrival. Altogether, this trade signifies a thrilling new chapter ahead for Durant. He’ll wear the Rockets jersey now as he looks to raise his new team to even higher levels.
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