Just hours before the climax of the 2025 NBA Finals, the league delivered another earth-shattering event: a blockbuster trade sending future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. In return, the Suns received Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick in Wednesday’s draft, and five second-round selections.
This seismic move instantly shifted the landscape of the Western Conference, prompting NBA insiders and analysts across the league to dissect the deal from every angle. Who truly benefited? How does Durant fit into Houston’s young core? And what does this mean for a Suns franchise seemingly pivoting again?
Let’s break down the Kevin Durant trade, examining the grades, the key winners and losers, and the potential ripple effects across the league.
Grading the Blockbuster Durant Trade
Expert opinions on the Kevin Durant trade offer a stark contrast between the two franchises involved.
Houston Rockets: A / A+
The overwhelming consensus among league insiders is that the Houston Rockets made a spectacular move, earning grades ranging from A- to a resounding A+. Despite Durant turning 37 around the start of training camp, the Rockets secured his services without sacrificing the players considered their most valuable young assets – namely Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, and Cam Whitmore.
Sources widely praised Houston for navigating the situation perfectly, acquiring a bona fide superstar while preserving their future flexibility and core pieces. They successfully threaded the needle, upgrading a team that surprised many by finishing second in the West without having to part with the premium young talent or draft capital (including the unprotected Phoenix 2027 first-round pick they already controlled) that many expected might be necessary.
Beyond retaining core assets, the trade directly addresses Houston’s most glaring weakness: late-game and half-court scoring. Despite a stout defense under Coach Ime Udoka, the Rockets struggled to create efficient offense when transition opportunities dried up, particularly in their first-round playoff loss. Durant, even at 36, remains one of the game’s elite isolation scorers with exceptional efficiency (.642 true shooting percentage last season). He immediately provides the go-to punch needed in crucial moments, creating space and easier looks for players like Sengun and Thompson.
The deal also effectively sheds Jalen Green’s contract, which some analysts viewed as potentially aging poorly given his inconsistency, particularly in the playoffs where he struggled outside of one major performance. While losing defensive stalwart Dillon Brooks impacts perimeter depth, players like Amen Thompson and Tari Eason are expected to step into larger roles. The calculated risk on Durant, seen as one of his preferred destinations, appears well-justified for a team ready to contend now.
Phoenix Suns: D / C-
In contrast, the Phoenix Suns’ return for Kevin Durant was met with widespread criticism and low grades, generally falling in the D to C- range, though a few outlets gave a slightly more generous B-/C. Most experts feel the Suns were severely outmaneuvered, especially given the massive haul they originally surrendered (Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, multiple unprotected firsts) to acquire Durant just two years prior.
Critics argue the Suns failed to achieve key objectives such as regaining their own future draft picks beyond the No. 10 selection, acquiring immediate-impact veterans that fit the current roster (like a point guard or center), or gaining significant cap relief. The package received – centered around Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick, and second-rounders – is widely seen as an “uninspiring” return for a player of Durant’s caliber.
A major concern highlighted is the poor roster fit. Adding Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks exacerbates the Suns’ imbalance, leaving them with a plethora of wing/shooting guard-type players (Booker, Beal, Green, Brooks, Allen, O’Neale) but still lacking a starting-caliber point guard or center. The potential primary backcourt trio of Booker, Beal, and Green is viewed with skepticism due to overlapping skill sets, potential defensive issues, and concerns about Green’s consistency and fit alongside established ball-dominant scorers.
Some analysts acknowledged the difficult position the Suns were in, partly due to prior “disastrous” trades (including the initial Durant deal and the Bradley Beal acquisition) that depleted their assets and flexibility. The No. 10 pick and Jalen Green (viewed by some as a “swing player” with potential or future trade value) are seen by proponents of the higher grades as necessary first steps out of a dire situation. However, the consensus remains bleak: the Suns parted with a superstar for significantly less than they paid, further entrenching them in “basketball hell” with limited draft capital (not controlling their own first till 2032), burdensome contracts like Beal’s, and no clear path back to immediate contention without significant further moves.
Beyond the Grades: Winners and Losers
Beyond the team grades, several individuals and franchises felt the immediate impact of the Durant trade.
Winners:
Rockets Young Core (Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore): With Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks departing (who combined for significant minutes per game), these young prospects are the most likely beneficiaries. Eason, already an impactful defender potentially surpassing Brooks, Sheppard (a highly-rated prospect who saw limited minutes as a rookie), and Whitmore (a talented scorer when given opportunity) all stand to see increased playing time and development opportunities crucial for their growth and the team’s future depth.
Kevin Durant: Durant lands in one of his reportedly preferred destinations, joining a team built with complementary pieces. The Rockets’ core players like Sengun (a playmaking center), Thompson and Eason (dynamic defenders), and VanVleet and Sheppard (shooters) create a roster where Durant can thrive without being the sole offensive engine or defensive anchor, arguably a better fit than his previous stops in Brooklyn or Phoenix which required more significant sacrifice from the acquiring teams.
Minnesota Timberwolves: While the Timberwolves reportedly attempted to acquire Durant, failing to do so might be a blessing. Acquiring Durant would have likely required sacrificing key pieces like Rudy Gobert, potentially collapsing their defensive identity. Avoiding such a move allows Minnesota to build on their recent success without taking on the risks associated with Durant’s age, health, and potential team fit concerns that Houston’s roster was better equipped to handle.
Eastern Conference Contenders: With most serious Durant suitors residing in the West, his move to Houston ensures one less superstar headache for the top teams in the East. This keeps the competitive balance tilted towards the West for now, providing a sigh of relief for contenders like the Pacers, Celtics, Bucks, and others.
Losers:
Oklahoma City Thunder: Regardless of the outcome of the 2025 NBA Finals, the Thunder gain a significantly tougher challenger in the West. Houston, now armed with Durant, immediately becomes a prime candidate to dethrone Oklahoma City, especially given Durant’s height advantage over OKC’s impressive perimeter defenders presents a unique matchup problem.
Bradley Beal: Adding Jalen Green, another scoring-focused guard, likely further reduces Bradley Beal’s role and on-ball opportunities in Phoenix. Despite his large contract and no-trade clause, Beal’s usage rate and minutes per game were already career lows last season. With Booker and Green positioned as the future backcourt, Beal could find himself as the team’s third or even fourth perimeter option, a potentially uncomfortable situation.
Phoenix Suns Franchise (Overall): As noted in the trade grades, the Suns are viewed as significant losers due to the overall outcome. The trade compounds prior missteps, leaving them in a difficult long-term position with limited assets, salary cap issues, and significant roster construction challenges around Devin Booker.
Leaguewide Reaction and What’s Next?
Initial reaction from around the NBA solidified the stark contrast in outcomes: a great deal for Houston and the best the Suns could realistically manage given the corner they’d painted themselves into with previous moves and a potentially limited trade market for Durant.
For the Rockets, the immediate focus shifts to integrating Durant, solidifying the rotation (especially the fifth starter spot alongside Durant, Sengun, Thompson, and VanVleet), and managing future financial implications. While they avoided giving up core assets, extending Durant and managing future extensions for young players like Thompson, Eason, and Smith will push them towards the luxury tax threshold and pose challenging decisions down the road. However, retaining flexibility allows for the potential pursuit of another* prime-age star if the opportunity arises. Re-signing Fred VanVleet, whether via his team option or a new long-term deal, is widely expected.
For the Suns, the path forward is less clear. The roster imbalance with numerous wing players and a lack of a point guard or center is obvious. While keeping Green signals a pivot towards a younger piece alongside Booker, questions remain about fit and Green’s development path. Sources indicate Phoenix is expected to be aggressive in further retooling the roster around Booker using the newly acquired No. 10 pick and other assets (though most are second-rounders after this year). The success of the No. 10 pick and potential future trades involving pieces like Brooks or Green will be critical as the Suns attempt to navigate out of their current asset-strapped and financially complex reality.
In the end, on the day the NBA season concluded with a champion crowned, Kevin Durant found his new home in Houston, instantly transforming the Rockets into a formidable Western Conference contender and potentially setting the stage for future showdowns against his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns are left grappling with the fallout, facing a challenging offseason and an uncertain future despite shedding their superstar.
