One brewing conversation in the NBA world over the past few weeks has been the trade status of Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant.
Durant, 37, has shown signs of wavering in his commitment to the franchise in recent weeks. He sat out all but one of the Rockets’ postseason games due to knee and ankle injuries, was given heat for not being on the team’s bench in Game 3, and has been accused of burner accounts that talk down to his Houston teammates.
Despite all of this drama, the Rockets “hold no immediate intention of trading Durant this summer,” Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reports.
Understanding Kevin Durant’s Situation With the Rockets
Despite Kevin Durant’s age, he’s still shown no signs of slowing down. This still makes him one of the top superstars in the NBA.
Playing in all but four regular-season games for the Rockets this season, Durant finished with averages of 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game on 52.0/41.3/87.4 shooting splits.
He also signed a two-year, $90 million contract extension with the Rockets in October, which includes a $46.09 million player option for 2027-28. This makes him a potential free agent after one more season in Houston.
The extension is labeled as a team-friendly deal, giving the Rockets the necessary cap space to sign additional talent. The hope is to get Houston over its postseason hump and become title contenders with Durant on the roster.
Brett Siegel highlights the alleged burner account Kevin Durant has that consistently questions his own teammates.
“This has no doubt caused friction in the locker room and internally with the organization,” the insider wrote.
Despite this allegation, the Rockets are in line for a more timid offseason than last. Staying patient and getting key players who suffered season-ending injuries in 2025-26 are the anticipated outlook in Houston.
What’s to Expect From the Rockets Next Season?
Before the start of the 2025-26 season, the Houston Rockets were labeled as one of the favorites out of the West. Adding Kevin Durant to a lineup that also included young risers Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, as well as veteran guard Fred VanVleet, made Rockets fans excited for what’s to come.
Unfortunately, the Rockets lost VanVleet to an ACL tear before the campaign even started. This led Amen Thompson to shoulder the workload in an unfamiliar point guard role. Reed Sheppard gained more pressure in developing into a potential role player that the Rockets hoped for in drafting him third overall in 2024.
On top of this, one of the best offensive rebounders in the NBA, Steven Adams, went out midseason with a season-ending ankle injury that needed surgery.
Outside of Kevin Durant, the Rockets were left with young players who lacked experience. This resulted in the 52-30 record and an early postseason exit.
However, the Rockets are expected to get their $25 million-a-year point guard back in Fred VanVleet. Steven Adams is expected to be at full strength for next season as well. He will bring a dominant paint presence to Houston while easing some of the pressure off Alperen Sengun.
Last season felt over before it even started, but the same hype should come back for the Houston Rockets if the drama can dry out.
Rockets Provide Kevin Durant Trade Update: Report