Ranking the Kevin Durant deal among the biggest trades in Rockets history

The Houston Rockets made the summer's biggest deal by acquiring Kevin Durant. It was one of the biggest trades in the organization's history.

That's no small feat. The Rockets have made several blockbuster acquisitions over the years. This team's history is rich with superstar talent, and plenty of it came on board via trade.

Here's where the Durant deal ranks within the 6 biggest deals in Rockets history.

6. Rockets pair Tracy McGrady with Yao Ming

When the Rockets acquired McGrady, he was widely viewed as one of the best players in the NBA. His statistical profile in his previous 2001-02 season with the Magic bordered on the absurd. McGrady averaged 28.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists with a 6.4 Box Plus/Minus (BPM). The season before had been even more outrageous as McGrady averaged 32.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists with an eye-popping 10.5 BPM.

Nobody could question McGrady's talent. They did question his ability to win. Had he struggled to win in Orlando due to circumstance, or was that his own doing?

Those questions remain unanswered. McGrady's time in Houston alongside Yao Ming was marred by frequent injuries. In terms of in-prime production, McGrady was among the team's biggest all-time acquisitions. Still, in hindsight, it would be fair to say that the deals ahead had a larger impact on the team's history.

5. Rockets bring Durant into winning culture

That's right.

This was the largest trade of this NBA offseason. It was still only the fifth-biggest trade in Rockets history. If you're wondering how that's possible, you'll have to read on.

There's a case to be made that Durant is the most talented player to ever don the Rockets red. He's also 37. That's the primary reason why he doesn't rank among the very biggest acquisitions in Rockets history.

4. Rockets land Clyde Drexler for mid-season title push

Heading into the 1994-95 season, the Rockets were defending the NBA championship. By the trade deadline, it wasn't looking good. The Rockets were struggling. So, they threw a Hail Mary by sending Otis Thorpe and a first-round pick to the Blazers for Clyde Drexler.

The rest is history. The Rockets entered the postseason with just 47 wins as the sixth seed. They defended their championship anyway, and Drexler was a huge reason.

He averaged 21.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game with a 5.0 BPM during his first run with the Rockets. Drexler is widely regarded as one of the most underrated players in NBA history, but longtime Rockets fans will never forget him.

3. Rockets form historic backcourt by acquiring Chris Paul

If you think Durant was a bigger acquisition than Paul, you're underrating just how good Paul was in 2017.

The year before Houston acquired him, Paul averaged 18.1 points and 9.2 assists per game with an 8.7 BPM. He was arguably the best point guard in the NBA not named Curry - depending on whether you considered James Harden a point guard.

Pairing the two created a two-headed monster. Rockets fans know that the end result was heartbreak. Paul's torn hamstring in the 2017-18 season halted the momentum of one of the best teams in franchise history. Still, his contributions to a 65-win juggernaut cannot be forgotten.

2. Rockets start franchise tradition with superstar big man Moses Malone

Now, we're going way back. This is the only deal that the author of this article wasn't born for.

(Yes, I am old.)

We can all use a history lesson from time to time. Let's go back to 1977. The Rockets sent two first-round picks to the Buffalo Braves in exchange for Malone. Four years later, he'd send the Rockets to their first NBA Finals.

His best individual season as a Rocket came in 1981-82. Malone averaged a staggering 31.1 points and 14.7 rebounds with a 4.5 BPM. The Rockets have a long-standing tradition of building around elite big men. Hakeem Olajuwon is the all-time best, but Malone was the first.

1. Rockets usher in new era with James Harden acquisition

You knew this was coming.

There's no need for a statistical analysis here. You know exactly how good Harden was in Houston. He was hitting statistical heights that we've only seen from Wilt Chamberlain.

Harden was a near lock to lead the league in scoring. He was an elite playmaker. This was a one-man offensive system that kept the Rockets in the title hunt for nine years. Harden is the second-best player in Rockets history:

But he's the best they ever landed via trade.