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ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on Houston’s blockbuster trade: “The price was so low they just couldn’t say no. The Rockets had this happen because Kevin Durant controlled this process.”
Though Houston had control of future NBA draft equity from the Phoenix Suns in 2025, 2027, and 2029, the Rockets signaled for almost a year that they weren’t interested in trading significant assets for a 36-year-old Kevin Durant.
So, what changed, from the perspective of general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka? In short, the asking price.
Brian Windhorst, ESPN’s longtime NBA reporter, explained Monday:
The price was so low they just couldn’t say no.
The Rockets had this happen because Kevin Durant controlled this process. Last winter, the Warriors were ready to trade for him. He said he didn’t want to go there, and they backed off. Last week, the Timberwolves were on the verge of trading for him. He didn’t want to go there.
The price came down, and the Rockets moved in. That’s how you elevate yourself as a team. You buy low, when you have a great opportunity.
Ultimately, Houston surrendered just one first-round draft asset — the No. 10 overall pick in 2025, which the Rockets don’t currently have room to play, anyway — and only one player (Jalen Green) from their collection of seven first-round picks over the previous four draft cycles.
The fact that Phoenix waited on a trade until Durant was in the final year of his existing contract also helped, since that gave Durant even more leverage to scare away other suitors (who wouldn’t want to trade much to acquire a veteran player who could leave them in a year for no compensation).
In the end, it all led to a perennial All-Star and former Most Valuable Player (MVP) joining forces with the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, and one that didn’t even have to cut too deeply into its existing roster to get the deal done. For Durant and the Rockets, it’s a clear win.
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