LeBron James screwed over Kevin Durant - and gave the Rockets a free pass

Kevin Durant is hoping to hammer out a new contract extension with the Houston Rockets. How things are playing out with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers could be getting in the way.

There is no question that the Houston Rockets value Kevin Durant. They have been linked to him many times in the past and won the sweepstakes to bring him onto the team this summer. Yet even in doing so, they did not give up any premium assets in the trade: they gave up Jalen Green, who was perhaps fourth or fifth in the pecking order of their young players, plus Dillon Brooks and the No. 10 pick (plus some seconds).

They didn't trade Amen Thompson. They didn't trade Reed Sheppard. They didn't trade Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. or even Tari Eason. They held onto the Suns' own future first-round picks that have top overall pick upside. They were measured in their offer for Durant, and it turned out to be enough to bring him in.

Durant is entering the final season of his contract, so working out an extension makes sense for both sides. At the same time, the Rockets don't want to hinder their ability to further build out and maintain a title contender in future seasons. And how they choose to navigate this situation is likely to be influenced by how things are going with LeBron James in California.

LeBron James' standing is going to influence Kevin Durant's contract

LeBron James is used to running whatever basketball team he is on. That doesn't mean he makes the day-to-day decisions, but his influence steers the ship, and when he does want something specific, he gets it. That includes trades, signings, maximum contracts and even the drafting of his progeny.

Yet this year, something is different with LeBron's standing: he is no longer the most important player to his franchise. Despite the fact that he continues to play at a high level, making his 21st All-NBA team last season, he will turn 41 years old this season and is about to play his record-breaking 23rd season in the NBA.

The Lakers shockingly landed another Top-10 player in Luka Doncic, one who was just four years old when LeBron made his NBA debut. The Lakers are pivoting to build their team around Doncic, and it was the Slovenian superstar who called the shots this offseason, recruiting players and setting the direction for the franchise.

Doncic, not LeBron. The young star, not the elderly one. For the first time in 23 years, LeBron was eclipsed.

LeBron represents the closest comparison to Kevin Durant in terms of a superstar forward, Top-20 player all-time, who has extended a high level of player late into his career. Durant will turn 37 years old before the start of the season, and while he continues to play extremely well, he is no longer an MVP candidate, and his runway of elite play is going to run out at some point.

The Rockets can and likely will take a page out of the Lakers' playbook. The Lakers prioritized Luka Doncic, did not offer LeBron James a new contract, and there was nothing The King could do about it. Houston can now approach Durant and let him know "we value you, but we are prioritizing the long-term vision." What is he going to do?

They will likely work out an extension, which LeBron and the Lakers did not, but the core sentiment is the same. The Rockets didn't have to sell the farm to land Kevin Durant, and they won't have to pay through the nose to retain him. Even as these old lions continue to produce, the sun is setting on their gravitational influence on their own teams.

If LeBron couldn't hold onto it, Kevin Durant cannot either.