Sources report Kevin Durant to join Rockets in major trade from Suns, says ESPN

The Phoenix Suns have agreed to a major trade deal, sending 15-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. In return, the Suns will receive Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft, and five second-round picks, according to sources from ESPN on Sunday.

The trade can be formally completed when the new league year begins July 6.

The package of five second-round picks heading to the Suns includes the 59th pick in the upcoming draft, two selections in 2026, one in 2030 acquired from Boston, and another in 2032, as reported by ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

The acquisition of Durant significantly boosts the Rockets’ chances for a championship push in the Western Conference. Durant will join forces with 2025 All-Star Alperen Sengun, promising two-way talent Amen Thompson, and experienced guard Fred VanVleet. Under head coach Ime Udoka, Houston achieved 52 victories this season, finishing as the No. 2 seed in the West.

The deal also puts Durant with one of his three preferred landing spots; Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs were the other two.

Durant and Udoka have a strong relationship dating back to shared stints with the Brooklyn Nets and USA Basketball. Last week, Udoka agreed to a long-term contract extension with the Rockets that makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in the league.

Durant, who turns 37 in September, averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 62 games this season. The future Hall of Famer has averaged at least 25 points, 50% shooting and 40% on 3-pointers in three straight seasons, the longest streak ever in the NBA, according to ESPN Research. As a shooter, Durant remains prolific: He shot an NBA-best on jumpers (49.7%) and midrange shots (53.1%). He also had the best shooting percentage on off-the-dribble jumpers (50.9%), according to GeniusIQ.

Durant is a massive acquisition for the Rockets, particularly giving them a premier jump shooter and shot creator who fits seamlessly into the lineup.

After news of the trade agreement, Houston’s odds to win the NBA title next season moved from 18-1 to +850 at ESPN BET. That’s the second-best odds behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder (+220).

The Rockets ranked just 27th in effective field goal percentage on off the dribble jumpers and 24th in effective field goal percentage on all jumpers, according to GeniusIQ. The Rockets also ranked seventh in isolations per game this season but ranked just 27th in points per direct isolation. By contract, Durant is a potent shooter and still one of the best iso players in the league: He led the NBA in points per direct isolation among players to run 200 isolations this season, according to ESPN Research.

Kevin Durant, a 15-time NBA All-Star, averaged 26.6 points this season and adds to the Rockets’ young core as Houston looks to make another jump next season after finishing second in the Western Conference during the regular season. Barry Gossage/Getty Images
The Suns engaged in serious talks to move Durant this week, primarily focused on the Heat, Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves, sources said. Several other wild-card suitors emerged as well — including the Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets, sources said. But with Durant on an expiring, $54.7 million contract and eligible for a new two-year extension after the trade, the league’s market for him clearly showed his ability to dictate whether he wanted to play for a franchise long term.

The Suns’ conversations focused on the Rockets and Heat in recent days, but both teams showed an unwillingness to part with young cornerstones such as Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard (Houston) and Kel’el Ware (Miami) in a Durant deal, sources said. The Heat made multiple offers for Durant but ultimately turned down the opportunity to place Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, the No. 20 pick and other draft assets all together in a deal, sources said.

Green averaged 21 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists this season while shooting a career-best 35.4% from 3-point range. The 23-year-old — who was the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NBA draft — played all 82 games in each of the last 2 seasons. He made 234 3-pointers this season, the most in a campaign by a Rockets player since James Harden in 2019-20. He now teams with All-NBA star Devin Booker to form a high-powered backcourt in their 20s.

Brooks shot a career-best 39.7% on 3-pointers this season and ranked third in total defensive matchups against 2025 All-Stars this season, according to ESPN Research. Whitmore, who turns 21 in July, averaged 0.46 points per touch, the fourth-best among players to record 1,000 touches this season. For a Suns team that has stated they want to preach toughness and grit moving forward, with owner Mat Ishbia preaching a new culture of “toughness,” Brooks has embodied such attributes throughout his career.

Durant arrived to the Suns in a February 2023 deadline trade, and his 26.8 points per game as a member of the franchise as the most in Suns history. The Suns now have three first-round picks and eight second-rounders eligible to be traded, resetting and replenishing most of the assets they traded when they moved four firsts for Durant.

The Suns went 36-46 this season and finished in 11th place in the Western Conference with the highest payroll in NBA history, leading to organizational changes in the hiring of executive Brian Gregory as general manager and Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as the new head coach.