Ted Cruz Reacts as Houston Rockets Reportedly Land Kevin Durant in Blockbuster Trade
Texas Senator Ted Cruz has weighed in following reports of a massive trade that would bring 15-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. The reported deal, which won’t become official until the league’s offseason opens on July 6, sees Durant leaving the Phoenix Suns for Houston.
According to reports, the Rockets are sending a significant package to Phoenix in exchange for Durant. This includes promising young guard Jalen Green, tenacious forward Dillon Brooks, the Rockets’ No. 10 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft, and five future second-round draft selections.
Senator Cruz Welcomes KD to Houston
A vocal sports fan, Senator Ted Cruz took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share his reaction to the news. He congratulated the Rockets on the potential acquisition.
“Congrats to the #Rockets!” Cruz wrote. He acknowledged the departure of a key defensive player, adding, “Losing Brooks really hurts—he’s ferocious on defense—but KD is an absolute beast.” Cruz concluded his post enthusiastically, declaring it a “GREAT trade!”
Why Phoenix Reportedly Moved Durant
Rumors surrounding the Suns trading Durant had been circulating for several weeks. Acquired by Phoenix with the hope of forming a championship contender alongside Devin Booker and later Bradley Beal, the superstar trio failed to live up to expectations.
After reaching the Western Conference Semifinals in the 2022-23 season, the Suns were eliminated in the first round in 2023-24 and ultimately missed the playoffs entirely in the 2024-25 season, finishing with a disappointing 36-46 record under coach Mike Budenholzer. This consistent underperformance reportedly led to the decision to move Durant and reshape the roster.
Despite the Suns’ struggles, Durant, who is now 36, has continued to showcase his elite scoring ability when healthy. In the past season, he averaged 26.6 points per game while shooting an efficient 52.7% from the field. He has maintained an incredible streak of being named an NBA All-Star in every season he has been available to play since 2009-10, missing only the 2019-20 season due to injury.
The reported Durant trade caps off an active offseason for the Houston Rockets, who are reportedly also extending head coach Ime Udoka as they continue building their roster.
