The Phoenix Suns have reshaped their roster with a stunning trade, sending superstar forward Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and five second-round picks. The deal, finalized on June 22, 2025, marks the end of Durant’s two-and-a-half-year tenure in Phoenix and signals a shift toward youth and flexibility for the Suns, while Houston aims to vault into championship contention with the addition of the 15-time All-Star.
Durant, a two-time NBA champion and 2014 MVP, averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 52.7% field goal shooting and 43% from three-point range in 62 games last season. At 36, he remains one of the league’s most lethal scorers, but Phoenix’s 36-46 record and playoff miss in 2024-25 exposed the team’s lack of depth and roster flexibility as a second-apron team. The Suns’ blockbuster acquisition of Durant from Brooklyn in February 2023, which cost Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and four first-round picks, failed to deliver a title, prompting owner Mat Ishbia and new general manager Brian Gregory to pivot toward a tougher, younger identity.
Jalen Green, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft, brings dynamic scoring to Phoenix. The 23-year-old guard averaged 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists last season, shooting 35.4% from three across all 82 games. His athleticism and shot-making pair with Devin Booker to form a high-octane backcourt, though integrating Green alongside Booker and Bradley Beal poses challenges due to positional overlap. Dillon Brooks, a 29-year-old forward, adds defensive tenacity and grit, averaging 14.0 points on 39.7% three-point shooting in 75 games. Known for his provocative style, Brooks led the league with 19 technical fouls but embodies the toughness Ishbia seeks. The No. 10 pick, originally Phoenix’s before being traded to Brooklyn, offers a chance to draft a rotation player like Duke’s Khaman Maluach, while the second-round picks—spanning 2025 to 2032—provide trade assets.
For Houston, Durant’s arrival addresses their offensive struggles, particularly in halfcourt settings, after a 52-30 season as the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed. The Rockets, eliminated by Golden State in the first round, retain young stars Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr., pairing them with Durant’s elite scoring under coach Ime Udoka, with whom Durant shares a history from Brooklyn and USA Basketball. Durant, on an expiring $54.7 million contract, is eligible for a two-year, $122 million extension, and Houston’s title odds have surged to +850, second only to Oklahoma City’s +220.
The trade, which cannot be formalized until July 6 due to Green’s rookie extension, drew mixed reactions. Suns fans lamented not recouping their own future first-round picks, while others praised the infusion of youth and draft capital. Houston’s retention of key assets fueled optimism about their championship window. As the NBA Finals head to Game 7 between Indiana and Oklahoma City, this trade reshapes the Western Conference landscape, setting both teams on bold new paths.
