NBA Shocker: Suns Trade Kevin Durant to Rockets for Green, Brooks, Top Pick

A seismic shift has rocked the NBA landscape. In a blockbuster move confirmed by league sources, the Phoenix Suns have traded superstar forward Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. The trade, first reported by outlets including ESPN and The Athletic, sees the Suns embarking on a significant organizational reset under new management, while the Rockets acquire a bona fide scorer to elevate their competitive aspirations.

The confirmed trade package sends the 15-time All-Star Durant to Houston. In return, the Suns acquire a significant haul: dynamic young guard Jalen Green, veteran defensive wing Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and five future second-round draft selections. While initially reported on June 22, 2025, the trade cannot be officially completed until July 6 due to the NBA’s “poison pill provision,” triggered by Jalen Green signing a rookie contract extension in October 2024.

This marks the first major transaction for Suns general manager Brian Gregory, recently promoted as part of a front-office restructuring under owner Mat Ishbia. It signals a clear pivot after a disappointing 2024-25 season where the Suns missed the playoffs despite boasting the league’s highest payroll. Ishbia has publicly stated a desire to instill a team identity focused on toughness and grit, a vision this trade appears designed to address.

Durant’s future in Phoenix had been uncertain, particularly after reports surfaced around the season’s trade deadline that the underperforming Suns had explored moving him without his knowledge – something he reportedly did not appreciate. With the team facing significant roster inflexibility as a second-apron team, a reset became necessary, making a trade for Durant the most viable path forward. Durant’s tenure in Phoenix, spanning less than three seasons and featuring three different head coaches, did not yield the consistent team success hoped for, winning just one playoff series (in 2023 against a shorthanded Clippers team) and being swept in the first round in 2024, before missing the playoffs entirely in 2025. The hoped-for chemistry between Durant and Devin Booker never fully materialized on the court, despite their Team USA success, and the addition of Bradley Beal before the 2023-24 season further complicated the roster mix.

For Kevin Durant, 37 in September, this move sends him to his fifth NBA franchise (SuperSonics/Thunder, Warriors, Nets, Suns). He has one year remaining on his current contract worth $54.7 million and is eligible this summer for a two-year extension potentially worth up to $122 million with the Rockets. News of the trade even broke publicly while Durant was on stage at Fanatics Fest, eliciting a broad smile and a comment of anticipation from the superstar.

What the Rockets Get: An Elite Offensive Engine

From Houston’s perspective, acquiring Durant is a strategic play to build upon their successful 2024-25 season, which saw them finish with a 52-30 record and secure the Western Conference’s #2 seed before falling to the Golden State Warriors in the first round. The Rockets’ offensive shortcomings, particularly in the half-court and lack of a consistent go-to scorer, were exposed in that playoff series.

Durant, one of the most accomplished scorers in NBA history (sixth-best scoring average all-time at 27.2 PPG, over 30,000 career points), brings elite, three-level scoring efficiency that will instantly elevate Houston’s ceiling. His presence provides head coach Ime Udoka with significantly more lineup optionality and is expected to bring improved rhythm and flow to their offensive execution.

Houston has historically struggled with outside shooting, and while players like Alperen Şengün and Fred VanVleet are capable playmakers, they benefit greatly from spacing. Durant, an “analytical darling” known for his efficiency, led the Suns last season in catch-and-shoot attempts (5.7), effective field goal percentage (66.9%), and three-point efficiency (45.6%). His ability to thrive both as a primary option and as a high-level complementary scorer (imagine him waiting on the weak side during a VanVleet/Şengün pick-and-roll) helps mitigate the need to have multiple non-shooters on the floor for extended periods. While questions about Durant’s age and injury history are natural, pairing his offensive arsenal with Houston’s established elite defense is seen as a potentially formidable combination.

What the Suns Get: Youth, Toughness, and Draft Capital

For the Suns, this trade is the catalyst for the organizational overhaul promised by Ishbia, centered on building a tougher identity. While the return package doesn’t match the significant assets (Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, four unprotected firsts) they initially gave up to acquire Durant in 2023, it is viewed as potentially the best outcome possible under the circumstances.

Jalen Green: The 23-year-old former #2 overall pick is an explosive and athletic 6-foot-4 guard who has steadily improved over his four seasons. Last season, he averaged a team-best 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists for the Rockets, shooting 42.3% overall and a career-best 35.4% from three on high volume (8.1 attempts per game). Green has also proven durable, playing all 82 games in each of the last two seasons. He recently signed a three-year, $106 million rookie extension starting in 2025-26. While his scoring can be inconsistent, often needing to improve shot selection, and Rockets coach Ime Udoka reportedly challenged him to impact the game beyond scoring, his upside is clear. Green joins a crowded Suns guard rotation alongside Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Grayson Allen. A dynamic backcourt pairing with Booker is a possibility, though chemistry will be key.

Dillon Brooks: The 29-year-old small forward brings the kind of toughness the Suns’ owner seeks. An eight-year veteran, Brooks is known primarily as a physical, often irritating defender capable of guarding the opponent’s best player. He was named second-team All-Defense in 2022-23. Offensively, he averaged 14.0 points last season, shooting a career-best 39.7% from 3-point range. Brooks can be a streaky shooter and occasionally goes “over the edge” with his intensity, evidenced by his 19 technical fouls last season (trailing only Anthony Edwards). Brooks has two years and $41.1 million remaining on his contract. Interestingly, the Suns reportedly attempted to acquire Brooks in a failed three-team trade back in the 2018-19 season.

No. 10 Overall Pick (2025): This lottery pick offers Phoenix an immediate opportunity to add a solid rotation player, potentially addressing a position of need like center with prospects such as Duke’s Khaman Maluach. Combined with the Suns’ own #29 pick, they have a chance to quickly reshape the roster.

Looking Ahead

The Suns plan to build around four-time All-Star Devin Booker, the franchise’s career scoring leader, who is eligible for a two-year, $150 million extension this summer. They are also expected to explore trading Bradley Beal, but his large contract ($111 million over the next two seasons) and no-trade clause make a deal difficult, as seen in past attempts. Jordan Ott was recently hired as the Suns’ new head coach for the upcoming season, adding another layer of change.

Meanwhile, the Rockets look to seamlessly integrate Durant into their mix of young talent and established veterans like Fred VanVleet and Alperen Şengün, aiming to make a deeper playoff run in the competitive Western Conference.