Ron Harper says Rockets have 3-5 years to win title or else Kevin Durant move was ‘bad trade’

Former NBA guard Ron Harper shared his thoughts on the Houston Rockets’ decision to trade for Kevin Durant.

The Rockets agreed to send Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and five second-round picks to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the two-time NBA Finals MVP.

While the move could help the Rockets take the next step to contend in the Western Conference, Harper believes that the team needs to win a title in the coming years in order for the Durant trade to be successful.

It’s an interesting timeline for Harper to put on the Durant deal, as Houston only has the star forward under contract for the 2025-26 season. However, Durant could sign an extension with the Rockets to keep him there for multiple seasons.

Giving up a young player like Green plus the No. 10 pick in the draft may seem like a big price to pay for an aging star, but Durant is still an elite player at this stage in his career.

During the 2024-25 season, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 43.0 percent from beyond the arc. He appeared in 62 games for the Suns, but they failed to make the playoffs in the Western Conference.

Houston, meanwhile, finished the 2024-25 regular season with the No. 2 seed in the West, but it was knocked out in the playoffs in the first round by the Golden State Warriors.

The Rockets lacked a true No. 1 scoring option in that series, as Green (who led the team in scoring in the regular season) averaged just 13.3 points per game against Golden State while shooting 37.2 percent from the field.

Durant has a ton of playoff and NBA Finals experience in his career, and he should be able to help Houston take the next step in the 2025-26 season.

However, if the Rockets don’t end up winning a title with Durant, it seems like Harper will see the trade for the veteran as a mistake.