Kevin Durant trade: Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets both win; Spurs, Miami lose

Kevin Durant was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets for eight players in a blockbuster deal

Published on: Jun 23, 2025, 01:08:21 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Kevin Durant was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets for eight players in a blockbuster deal, according to multiple reports on Sunday. Star guard Jalen Green and swingman Dillon Brooks, as well as the 10th pick in Wednesday's NBA Draft and five future second-round picks, have been moved to the Suns.

Kevin Durant has been traded to the Houston Rockets (AP)

Durant will now join hands with a young Houston squad guided by coach Ime Udoka that finished 52-30, second in the Western Conference behind overall NBA leader Oklahoma City.

Here’s a breakdown of the winners and losers in this blockbuster deal

Winners

Phoenix Suns: The Suns gained much-needed flexibility by offloading Durant’s contract. With three first-round picks, including the 2025 No. 10, and eight future second-rounders, owner Mat Ishbia can retool a roster that underperformed in recent playoffs. Jalen Green could replace Devin Booker if the latter goes ahead with a trade. Trading Durant, despite his elite production (27.1 PPG in 2024-25), allows a fresh start after years of postseason struggles.

Houston Rockets: The Rockets vaulted into championship contention by adding Durant to a rising roster under coach Ime Udoka. Durant’s scoring prowess (two-time Finals MVP) complements Alperen Sengun’s playmaking, creating a potent duo. Young talents like Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. will benefit from Durant’s veteran presence in high-stakes games. Houston’s physical, defense-first style, already a top-10 unit, could dominate the West with Durant’s clutch scoring, positioning them for a deep playoff run.

Losers

Miami Heat: Miami aggressively pursued Durant to fill the void left by Jimmy Butler’s trade to Golden State. Pat Riley’s failure to land Durant leaves the Heat without a superstar to anchor their roster, forcing a pivot to either lesser trade targets or a rebuilding year to clear cap space for 2026.

San Antonio Spurs (Victor Wembanyama): The Spurs aimed to pair Durant with Victor Wembanyama, envisioning a mentorship akin to Chris Paul’s role in 2024-25. Durant’s size, scoring, and versatility would have been a perfect model for Wembanyama’s development.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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