The fans of the Houston Rockets are split over the recent news of Kevin Durant joining the team in Houston. Kevin Durant has been at the center of an avalanche of rumors surrounding his future in the NBA. Several teams emerged as potential destinations for Kevin Durant, but the 15-time All-Star had a preferred list of teams that he wished to join when he left Phoenix. The three teams that KD wanted to join were the Spurs, the Heat, and finally the Rockets. What side do you fall on in the Rockets’ deal to acquire Kevin Durant?
Kevin Durant has been the nucleus in the trade talks this offseason.
We all knew that KD was going to leave Phoenix this offseason, despite having a record-breaking season for the Suns. Kevin Durant’s 26.8 points per game as a member of the franchise is the most in Suns history. But the chemistry with Devin Booker never developed into what it promised to be. KD had a similar experience in Brooklyn alongside Kyrie Irving and James Harden.
Once the regular season ended, the trade talks began. Especially around Kevin Durant. The hype surrounding potential suitors had everyone in the NBA talking about KD and where he might end up next year. Following a whirlwind few weeks, the Houston Rockets emerged as one of the favorites to lure KD in by making a respectable offer to the Suns.
What are the details of the trade deal that brings KD to Houston?
SB Nation conducted a poll before the news of the trade broke. And the poll had some mixed results, as the fans in Houston were split regarding Kevin Durant potentially playing for the Rockets. We wonder how they might feel now that the news has broken that KD is indeed moving to Texas. Kevin Durant is an exceptional player, and wherever he goes, it is going to cost a lot.
The news comes to us via NBA whisperer and ESPN Insider Shams Charania, who reported that the Suns have traded Kevin Durant to Houston in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in this year’s draft, and five second-round picks. Despite the SB Nation poll, the fans in Houston will surely see this as a positive in their title-contending pursuits.
Durant has been linked to several teams this offseason. Following the breaking news of his trade to Houston, KD had the following to say regarding the trade situation:
“Being part of the Houston Rockets, I’m looking forward to it. Crazy, crazy last couple weeks, but I’m glad it’s over with. They had a great season last year. Love their leadership. I felt like I’d be a good addition.”[The Suns] wanted me to go, they got what they wanted, and I got what I wanted. We can move on, and good luck to them going forward. Always remember my time there, but we’re on to something else.”
A major deciding factor in the KD decision might have been the Rockets’ head coach, Ime Udoka. Durant and Udoka have a strong relationship dating back to their shared time with the Nets and the US National Team. Udoka has been making waves in the NBA since joining the Rockets and signed a long-term contract extension with the Rockets that makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in the league.
Are the Houston Rockets a championship-contending team now?
As the season has come to an end, the focus now shifts to the trade market and the draft class for next season. The news came as a shock to some, but the insiders in the NBA, such as Shams Charania, who broke the story, knew that KD would most likely get his wish and be traded to one of his preferred destinations. Kevin Durant had a productive season in Phoenix, averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 62 games. He is also on an expiring, $54.7 million contract and eligible for a new two-year extension after the trade.
