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BIG Move By Houston Rockets Just Pushed Them Closer to Making Kevin Durant Trade
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- BIG Move By Houston Rockets Just Pushed Them Closer to Making Kevin Durant Trade
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
If Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets are not a serious title contender in 2026-27, you can bet he will be traded before the deadline after a big move by the team on Thursday.
Heading into last season, there were big expectations for Durant and the Rockets. They were a young and talented team on the rise, with a good head coach, played high-level defense, and were adding one of the best scorers in NBA history. Sure, the loss of Fred VanVleet to injury was problematic, but there was more than enough talent to be a major force in the West.
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Instead, they finished with the fifth-best record in the conference (they had the second-best the year before), had issues in the locker room related to Durant, and were ousted in the opening round of the playoffs by a Los Angeles Lakers team that didn't have Luka Doncic . It looked like the 16-time All-Star was a bigger hindrance than help. That is why he was linked to trade rumors heading into the summer.
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Houston Rockets give Amen Thompson contract extension
May 1, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter of game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
However, the Rockets remained quiet this offseason and instead chose to go forward with the same roster and add players to improve their depth. But a notable decision this week may make a Durant trade in the winter far more likely.
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ESPN's Shams Charania broke the news that the Rockets and talented swingman Amen Thompson have agreed to a five-year, $208 million rookie-scale contract extension . The deal also reportedly includes a 10% trade kicker.
The fourth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft has steadily improved his overall game over his first three seasons. He entered the league with high-level defense and athleticism as his calling card. However, he has grown as an offensive player. Posting a career-high 18 points and 5 assists this past season. At only 23 years old, he can be a core member of the roster for a decade.
Amen Thompson extension should worry Kevin Durant
Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) looks on from the court during the final minutes of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
While there were rumblings last season that the Rockets might consider trading All-Star big man Alperen Sengun to add another veteran star next to Durant, that would be a terrible decision. He is only 24 years old and is just entering his prime after back-to-back All-Star Game appearances. Pairing him with another rising star in his early 20s is smart for the organization's long-term health. Relying heavily on a player who will be 38 in a few weeks isn't.
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Durant is still a talented player, but he is showing signs of age and doesn't have a great reputation as a teammate. He was supposed to be the missing piece of a title contender last year. He wasn't. Giving this group one more try is understandable. They have a lot invested in them. However, with Durant having a player option for next season , you can't trust that he won't just leave Houston if things don't go well again in the new season.
If the Rockets are looking a lot like they did last season during the first half, even with VanVleet back, the Rockets are sure to look at moving Durant before the deadline to get something (draft assets) for him instead of losing him after the season for nothing. Then search for another star next summer.
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