With all eyes on the basketball world ahead of Sunday night’s Game 7, the Phoenix Suns traded Kevin Durant in a blockbuster deal that’s sure to have big implications next season.
After weeks of speculation, ESPN insider Shams Charania reported that the Suns shipped the 15-time All-Star to the Houston Rockets for a package of Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, this year’s No. 10 pick and five second rounders.
However, as Charania notes, the Rockets were one of two teams Phoenix had lengthy discussions with before pulling the trigger on the Houston deal.
“The Suns engaged in deep conversations with the two Durant finalists — Houston and Miami — over the last 24 hours and reached agreement on the deal Sunday morning,” Shams said.
The Heat were one of the three teams on KD’s wishlist along with the Rockets and San Antonio Spurs — and the two-time Finals MVP will now be a veteran offensive presence on one of the league’s most promising young teams.
At 36-years-old Durant is still very much at the top of his game, coming off a season in which he averaged over 26 PPG on 53/43/84 splits.
KD also reportedly has a strong relationship with Houston head coach Ime Udoka from their time together in Brooklyn which lends to the Rockets potentially being an ideal fit.
Other interested teams included the Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets. But the Rockets and Heat really emerged in the final days of negotiations.
Houston will now be the fifth jersey Durant wears in his 17-year NBA career after stints with the Sonics/Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns.
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