One of the bigger names in the NBA that fans should expect to see in trade rumors this summer is Phoenix Suns star forward Kevin Durant.
Durant still has an elite offensive skill set, as he is not far removed from averaging 26.6 points per game and being one of the leading scorers in the league in the 2024-25 regular season.
He ostensibly could be the missing piece to a championship puzzle for a title contender, but the Suns seem to be far away from contending for a title. After all, they didn’t even make the 2025 NBA Playoffs with a record of 36-46.
Now might be the time for a team that’s one piece away to pursue a Durant trade, as the Suns have gradually lowered their asking price for the forward, according to The Athletic’s Kelly Iko.
“This is not to say the [Houston] Rockets and Suns are not in communication,” Iko wrote. “On the contrary, Phoenix is aggressive in pursuit of a) trading Kevin Durant and b) regaining full control of their draft capital starting with the No. 10 pick in next month’s draft, team sources said. Since the conclusion of the season, Houston has fielded several calls from Phoenix, who have since gradually lowered their asking price for Durant, those sources said. There is a price where the Rockets would be interested, but with a fear of breaking up their roster for a 36-year-old coming off injury, doubt remains over a deal materializing.”
The Rockets might just be a team that is a player of Durant’s caliber away from legitimately contending for the 2026 NBA title. After all, Houston ended up as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference without a legitimate superstar on its roster and nearly pulled off a 3-1 series comeback against the Golden State Warriors in the opening round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
It’s hard to argue that Durant wouldn’t make the Rockets a better team right now, but at the same time, there are legitimate questions about whether he fits the squad’s timeline beyond the 2025-26 season.
The Rockets have a really young core, as a lot of their best players are still in their 20s and likely have yet to reach their respective peaks. However, Durant is one of the older players in the league, as he’s 36 years old and will turn 37 before the 2025-26 regular season starts up. He’s been in the league ever since he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Whether Durant ends up getting dealt to the Rockets or elsewhere, hopefully he will get moved this offseason to a team that will give him a real chance to win his third championship in his storied career.
