The Phoenix Suns have agreed on a blockbuster commerce, sending 15-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Inexperienced, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 decide within the draft and 5 second-round picks, sources advised ESPN on Sunday.
The commerce could be formally accomplished when the brand new league yr begins July 6.
The deal locations Durant on the No. 2-seeded Rockets, who received 52 video games underneath Ime Udoka this season and elevates the staff’s positioning for championship competition within the Western Convention round Durant, 2025 All-Star Alperen Sengun, rising two-way pressure Amen Thompson and veteran guard Fred VanVleet.
The deal additionally lands Durant with certainly one of his three commerce preferences, which emerged because the Rockets, Miami Warmth and San Antonio Spurs.
Durant and Udoka have a powerful relationship courting again to shared stints with the Brooklyn Nets and USA Basketball. Final week, Udoka agreed to a brand new long-term contract extension with the Rockets that makes him one of many highest paid coaches within the league.
Durant, who turns 37 in September, averaged 26.6 factors, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 62 video games this season. The long run Corridor of Famer has averaged at the very least 25 factors, 50% capturing and 40% on 3-pointers in three straight seasons, the longest streak ever within the NBA, in response to ESPN Analysis. As a shooter, Durant stays prolific: He shot an NBA-best on jumpers (49.7%) and midrange pictures (53.1%). He additionally had the most effective capturing share on off-the-dribble jumpers (50.9%), in response to GeniusIQ.
Durant is a large acquisition for the Rockets, notably giving them a premier bounce shooter and shot creator who suits seamlessly into the lineup.
The Rockets ranked simply twenty seventh in efficient discipline purpose share on off the dribble jumpers and twenty fourth in efficient discipline purpose share on all jumpers, in response to GeniusIQ. The Rockets additionally ranked seventh in isolations per sport this season however ranked simply twenty seventh in factors per direct isolation. By contract, Durant is a potent shooter and nonetheless the most effective iso gamers within the league: He led the NBA in factors per direct isolation amongst gamers to run 200 isolations this season, in response to ESPN Analysis.
The Suns engaged in critical talks to maneuver Durant this week, primarily centered on the Warmth, Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves, sources stated. A number of different wild-card suitors emerged as effectively — together with the Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets, sources stated. However with Durant on an expiring, $54.7 million contract and eligible for a brand new two-year extension after the commerce, the league’s marketplace for him clearly confirmed his capability to dictate whether or not he needed to play for a franchise long run.
The Suns’ conversations centered on the Rockets and Warmth in current days, however each groups confirmed an unwillingness to half with younger cornerstones reminiscent of Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard (Houston) and Kel’el Ware (Miami) in a Durant deal, sources stated. The Warmth made a number of affords for Durant however in the end turned down the chance to position Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, the No. 20 decide and different draft belongings in a deal, sources stated.
Inexperienced averaged 21 factors, 4.6 rebounds and three.4 assists this season whereas capturing a career-best 35.4% from 3-point vary. The 23-year-old — who was the No. 2 decide within the 2021 NBA draft — performed all 82 video games in every of the final 2 seasons. He made 234 3-pointers this season, probably the most in a marketing campaign by a Rockets participant since James Harden in 2019-20. He now groups with All-NBA star Devin Booker to kind a high-powered backcourt of their 20s.
Brooks shot a career-best 39.7% on 3-pointers this season and ranked third in whole defensive matchups in opposition to 2025 All-Stars this season, in response to ESPN Analysis. Whitmore, who turns 21 in July, averaged 0.46 factors per contact, the fourth-best amongst gamers to report 1,000 touches this season. For a Suns staff that has said they wish to preach toughness and grit shifting ahead, with proprietor Mat Ishbia preaching a brand new tradition of “toughness,” Brooks has embodied such attributes all through his profession.
Durant arrived to the Suns in a February 2023 deadline commerce, and his 26.8 factors per sport as a member of the franchise as probably the most in Suns historical past. The Suns now have three first-round picks and eight second-rounders eligible to be traded, resetting and replenishing many of the belongings they traded after they moved 4 firsts for Durant.
The Suns went 36-46 this season and completed in eleventh place within the Western Convention with the very best payroll in NBA historical past, resulting in organizational adjustments within the hiring of government Brian Gregory as basic supervisor and Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as the brand new head coach.
