Kevin Durant Trade Rumors Heat Up: Houston Rockets Reportedly Interested

NBA Trade Rumors: Kevin Durant Trade Rumors Heat Up: Houston Rockets Reportedly Interested

Another offseason, another major potential shake-up involving Kevin Durant—and this time, the Houston Rockets have entered the chat.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, there’s a “level of mutual interest” between Durant and the surging Rockets, who are coming off a breakout season and could be in the market for a superstar to take them over the top.

Why Durant Could Be on the Move Again

The Phoenix Suns' season was a mess.

They finished 36–46, missed the play-in entirely, and fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after just one season. That followed last year’s first-round sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Despite a star-studded trio of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, the Suns never found the right chemistry or defensive identity—and now the teardown seems inevitable.

Shams reported that Phoenix is expected to engage in trade conversations involving Durant and will work with KD and his longtime business partner, Rich Kleiman, to find a landing spot that works for both sides.

Why the Rockets Make Sense

Houston has quietly become one of the league’s best turnaround stories. After years in the lottery, they've surged to the No. 2 seed in the West, behind a young core of Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Cam Whitmore, led by head coach Ime Udoka.

Adding Durant could catapult them into true title contention.

• They have a deep asset pool (young players, picks, and cap flexibility).

• They could offer Phoenix a strong return while keeping their own core mostly intact.

• Durant, at 36, would bring elite scoring and playoff experience to a young group still learning how to win in the postseason.

If Houston underperforms in the playoffs—especially against a battle-tested Golden State team—it could nudge them toward swinging big this summer.

Durant’s Value and Contract Situation

KD remains elite:
26.6 PPG, 6 RPG, 4.2 APG, 43% from three this season.

He’s under contract through 2026, with about $51 million owed next season. At 36, he's still producing like a top-10 player, but the clock is ticking for him to compete at the highest level.

"If you lose early ... could [the Rockets] look at a guy like Kevin Durant? ... Monitor them." @ShamsCharania says KD and the Rockets have a "level of mutual interest" in working together pic.twitter.com/DmDStOsUIc

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 16, 2025

Potential Fit in Houston

A KD-Şengün-Green trio would be one of the most dynamic in the NBA. Durant’s shooting and scoring versatility would fit perfectly next to the passing instincts of Şengün and the athleticism of Houston’s young wings.

Udoka’s defensive-first philosophy could also help maximize Durant's impact on both ends—something Phoenix failed to do.

Bottom Line

Whether or not Durant ends up in Houston depends on two things:

1. How the Rockets perform in the playoffs this spring.

2. How aggressively Phoenix tears down its roster around Booker.

But the interest is real—and with KD’s future once again in limbo, Houston might be the next big NBA power move waiting to happen.

Want a potential Rockets-Suns trade package breakdown if this gets serious?