The Houston Rockets made the biggest move of the 2025 NBA offseason by adding Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns. Though they sent a massive haul for the 15-time All-Star, Durant arrives on the Rockets with just one year left on the four-year, $194 million contract extension he signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2021.
But most recently, during Houston’s preseason media day, Durant made comments that have a drastic impact on both his and the franchise’s future. Speaking with the press, Durant said he would be open to signing a contract extension with the Rockets, but doesn’t know what the specifics would look like.
“I do see myself signing a contract extension,” Durant said. “I can’t tell you exactly when that will happen, but I do see it happening.”
Along with adding Durant, the Rockets signed Dorian Finney-Smith and reworked the contracts of many of their other players to free up cap space for their top stars. They also re-signed head coach Ime Udoka to a contract extension, but most recently saw point guard Fred VanVleet suffer a season-ending ACL injury during an offseason workout.
Durant On His New Team
While yet to even play a game in a Rockets uniform, Durant was firm that he would be open to staying longer-term in Houston as he enters the twilight of his career. He is coming off averaging 26.6 points, six rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 62.7% shooting for the Suns last season. Despite being now 37 years old, Durant remains one of the most prolific and efficient offensive players in the NBA.
While the superstar being moved from Phoenix wasn’t a complete surprise, Durant said he didn’t expect his tenure with the team to be that short. After missing the playoffs, the Suns also moved off of Bradley Beal, leaving Devin Booker as one of their only remaining players from their roster a few seasons ago.
“I wasn’t expecting to leave Phoenix that quickly, but that’s just the nature of the game,” Durant said.
After the trade, the former Texas Longhorns forward said he did play a part in the move, as Houston was one of his preferred destinations. Though a member of the team for a few months, Durant said he feels comfortable with the move and fitting in with his new team.
“So I quickly just thought about who I was comfortable with,” Durant added. “Ime has always been one of those guys that understood what I brought to the table and my mentality and my approach to the game. He always respected that and gave me my space to be me. So that was one of the first things I thought about.”
Durant is eligible to sign a two-year, $120 million extension with the Rockets over the summer. When asked about a potential deal after the superstar’s comments, Houston general manager Rafael Stone didn’t comment.
Rockets Heading Into The 2025-26 NBA Season
Adding Durant was the highlight of Houston’s summer, but it was one of many roster changes the franchise made during the offseason.
Notably, the Rockets reworked their contract with VanVleet, with the former champion guard signing a two-year deal for $50 million. However, Shams Charania of ESPN recently reported that VanVleet suffered a torn ACL over the summer and will likely miss the entire upcoming season.
Houston was also able to re-sign multiple veterans to smaller deals, which in turn freed up cap space for them to add Finney-Smith, Clint Capela, and Durant. They also locked down Udoka to a long-term extension after helping the team reach consecutive playoff appearances in the post-James Harden era.
The Rockets have also seen the tremendous growth of Alperen Sengun over the past few years. Most recently, he led Turkiye to the EuroBasket Final, averaging 21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in the tournament, all of which ranked in the top ten. He was named an All-Star last season, and behind Durant, he will be their most impactful offensive player next season.
Full highlights of this man absolutely COOKING in EuroBasket 2025.
📊 21.6 PTS | 10.1 REB | 6.6 AST | 1.0 STL | 1.0 BLK
Houston lost Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in the Durant deal with the Suns, and also saw rising star Cam Whitmore leave in a trade with the Washington Wizards. Many ranked Houston as having one of the best offseasons in the NBA, though that was before news of the VanVleet injury.
For the time being, Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard expect to take on bigger playmaking roles for a team that hopes to compete for a title. With the VanVleet injury, the roster remains a bit flexible, but Durant giving a verbal commitment to the franchise is a positive sign for the front office heading into the upcoming season.
Kevin Durant Makes Major Announcement On His Rockets Future