Blockbuster NBA Trade Proposal Sends Kevin Durant To Rockets, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. To Suns

May 20, 2025

One NBA analyst proposed that the Houston Rockets acquire Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns this summer.

Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Suns, Rockets and Washington Wizards:

Phoenix Suns Receive: Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., No. 10 pick, 2026 first-round pick (their own, via Washington), 2027 first-round pick (their own, via Houston)

Houston Rockets Receive: Kevin Durant

Washington Wizards Receive: Jock Landale (into Jonas Valančiūnas traded player exception), No. 29 pick, 2029 first-round pick (least favorable of Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah)

The Suns and Durant are expected to part ways this summer. Durant, who turns 37 in September, has one year left on his contract. He’ll make $54,708,609 next season.

A future Hall of Famer, Durant doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. According to Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic, KD is interested in getting traded to the Rockets.

However, Houston has “significant reservations” about trading for Durant.

“While Durant is widely seen as the most attainable of that group, and he is known to be very interested in playing in Houston, team sources said the Rockets still have significant reservations about that possible partnership, in large part, because Durant’s age (36) would be so out of sync with their younger timeline,” Amick and Iko wrote. “It’s worth noting that previous talks between the teams about Durant, team sources said, were initiated by the Suns.”

Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Suns this season while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from 3 and 83.9% from the free-throw line.

One of the greatest players in NBA history, Durant has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. He’s a two-time champion, a two-time Finals MVP, a one-time MVP and a four-time scoring champion.

The Rockets made the playoffs this year for the first time since 2020. They lost to the Warriors in the first round in seven games, proving that they need an alpha scorer like Durant.