Overview

• Houston completed a seven-team deal to acquire Kevin Durant, with Phoenix receiving the No. 10 pick used on Khaman Maluach, five second-rounders, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks.
• The Rockets added veterans Dorian Finney-Smith, Clint Capela and Josh Okogie while retaining Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams, boosting expectations of Western Conference contention.
• Patrick Beverley predicted Durant will have significant offensive freedom in Houston, citing second-chance opportunities created by the team’s strong offensive rebounding.
• Houston later traded Cam Whitmore to Washington in a three-team move for two second-round picks, a return Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale criticized as one of the offseason’s worst.
• Bleacher Report set Houston’s over/under at 55.5 wins and projected a 52-30 record, noting concerns about Durant’s workload and limited non-Durant shot creation in the half court.