Some members of the Houston Rockets regret trading for Kevin Durant last offseason, sources told Ahn Fire Digital.
The Rockets acquired Durant from the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster seven-team trade involving the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Houston parted ways with Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to acquire Durant, one of the best players in NBA history. While Durant is putting up stellar numbers (25.7 points per game) and the Rockets are in fifth place in the Western Conference standings, the team’s chemistry and camaraderie haven’t been as good as they were last season, sources said.
“A lot of guys miss Jalen and Dillon,” one source said. “Kevin hasn’t bonded with anyone here yet.”
One source close to Houston told Ahn Fire Digital that the Rockets “probably wouldn’t” have traded for Durant had Fred VanVleet gotten hurt before the Durant trade went down. VanVleet, who tore his ACL in the summer after the Durant trade, is Houston’s vocal leader, a role Durant has never wanted on his teams, sources said.
Vibes around the Rockets have been “awkward and tense” since the 2026 All-Star Game, sources said. Even though Durant brushed off accusations on social media that he was behind burner accounts that were critical of teammates Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr., most players and high-ranking officials in Houston believe Durant is behind the burner accounts, sources said.
