Kevin Durant has one thing to prove before the Rockets can shell out an extension

As the Houston Rockets made the move for Kevin Durant this offseason, they were well aware that they would need to begin considering a potential extension for the veteran forward almost immediately following his arrival.

However, before tying up a large amount of money in their new superstar, perhaps limiting their flexibility during the most vital period for their organization in over a decade, they must first see what kind of impact Durant can have on the team's potential.

It is highly unusual for a team like the Rockets, who surged to the second seed in the loaded Western Conference last season, to go hunting for a player of Durant's caliber on the trade market. Therefore, although Durant will completely transform the team's offense in theory, Houston still needs proof of concept. Durant must prove to be a bona-fide winner with the organization before he gets an extension.

Kevin Durant must prove himself before the Rockets can give him an extension

Given the fact that Durant only has one year remaining on the four-year, $194 million contract he originally signed with the Brooklyn Nets, the Rockets admittedly do not have the luxury of a whole season, or even two, to figure out whether or not Durant is the right fit for the organization.

With the Miami Heat, and likely other teams, lurking and hoping that Durant hits unrestricted free agency next offseason, Houston, on one hand, needs to secure him for the next couple of seasons as soon as possible in order to ensure the assets they gave up in the trade don't go to waste.

At the same time, however, they still have their young core of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason intact, and tying up significant money in Durant over the next few seasons could prove to be a serious gamble if his fit within the Rockets' system is not as seamless as expected.

Moreover, as Durant has aged, he has dealt with injuries beyond just the Achilles rupture he suffered in 2019, and any number of injury issues could also create significant problems for Houston.

Therefore, while it is impossible to see the future completely, it may be smart for the Rockets to wait until mid-season to extend Durant in order to make sure that his addition does not result in complete disaster. While this will inevitably be a small sample size, Durant has the potential to turn this team into true championship contenders, and the effects of this should start to be felt in the first 30 or so games of the season.

Durant, undeniably, is one of the elite players in NBA history, and it is almost certain that he will elevate Houston across the board with his arrival. At the same time, however, less risky gambles have failed time and time again in the NBA, and the Rockets must be as sure as they possibly can before they give Durant a hefty extension.