The Houston Rockets are feeling great after pulling off a shocking move in the NBA offseason. They sent Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick (which went to Khaman Maluach), a two-way player, and five future second-round picks to the Suns, but Houston believes they really scored big. Kevin Durant , who’s 37, doesn’t come cheap — but according to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, the front office feels the price was just right. This huge seven-team trade has reshaped the Rockets’ championship aspirations.
ESPN ranks Houston Rockets among top four title contenders after bold offseason overhaul
On July 6, 2025, the Rockets pulled off a major deal, officially bringing Kevin Durant on board through a historic seven-team trade — the first of its kind — which saw them sending key assets to the Phoenix Suns and other teams. Houston let go of Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, along with their No. 10 pick (which was later used to draft Khaman Maluach), five second-round picks, two-way player David Roddy, and future pick swaps. In return, they landed Durant and veteran center Clint Capela through a sign-and-trade.
As Brian Windhorst pointed out, it wasn’t solely about landing a future Hall-of-Famer — it was all about the value. Durant supposedly avoided other teams until his market price fell to a point that the Rockets found irresistible. Rockets GM Rafael Stone took a page from Sam Presti’s strategy — tackling one success at a time — and prioritized the present after securing their “Core 7” which includes Aleperen Sengun, Thompson, Smith Jr., Eason, Sheppard, Whitmore, and more.
Houston’s new starting lineup includes Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Alperen Sengün, and Kevin Durant. To boost their depth, they also brought in Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela. ESPN has called the Rockets ‘instant title contenders,’ raising their championship odds to +800/+850, placing them fourth in the futures rankings, just behind Oklahoma City, Cleveland, and New York.