Overview
- Houston acquired Kevin Durant in a midsummer deal with Phoenix that shifted the franchise from a youth-driven rebuild to a win-now approach.
- The Rockets sent out key young pieces, including Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, and later moved Cam Whitmore as they reshaped the roster around Durant.
- General manager Rafael Stone said talks with the Suns spanned two years, describing a deliberate pursuit of a proven scorer to close the gap with Western contenders.
- Durant criticized the Suns’ lack of frontcourt depth and limited flexibility after the Bradley Beal trade, saying small-ball lineups undercut Phoenix’s chances.
- Seen as Houston’s new linchpin, Durant averaged 26.6 points in his final Suns season and ranks eighth all time in scoring, joining a core that includes Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr.