Rockets bold Kevin Durant decision could immediately haunt them

As the Houston Rockets prepared to enter the 2025-26 NBA season, the team seemed complete, deep, and poised to seriously contend for a championship for the first time in years.

Yet, the recent news of the ACL injury to Fred VanVleet, which could cause him to miss the entire season, throws a serious wrench in things, and, if the season ultimately does not play out successfully as a result, the Rockets' move for Kevin Durant could come back to haunt them as they try to negotiate an extension.

While it remains the most likely scenario that Durant accepts a contract extension to stay in Houston beyond this season, a sub-par performance could lead him to seek the final bag of his career elsewhere, increasing the risk the Rockets' bold gamble does not pay off.

The Rockets will still need to wait on a Kevin Durant extension, leaving massive room for risk

In trading for Durant, Houston knew they were taking on a healthy amount of risk in attempting to extend him beyond this season. Yet, their willingness to trade two starters, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, along with a high draft pick back to the Phoenix Suns showed that they had significant faith in their ability to do so.

Yet, the predominant feeling has been that they will attempt to negotiate an extension with Tari Eason, who will hit restricted free agency next offseason, prior to beginning talks with Durant, and Zach Lowe, on the latest episode of The Zach Lowe Show, has confirmed this fact: "I do think a deal will get done. I think the Rockets are probably waiting to get Tari Eason's extension done, joining up with Jabari Smith Jr, and then see sort of what the math apron, tax-wise for Durant."

The Eason extension, on its own, already presents a rather tenuous case. After giving Jabari Smith Jr. a five-year, $122 million rookie extension, Eason should expect a similar number. Given their need to also give Durant a near-max contract, the balancing of their books could get a bit dicey.

At the same time, however, the need to wait on a Durant extension also poses significant risk. With VanVleet out, the team will be missing their primary facilitator. In addition to conforming their offense around Durant, they will now need to distribute playmaking responsibilities between young players Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun.

While this plan has the potential to work out well, given both of these players already existent ball-handling capabilities, it could also go incredibly poorly, and it is within the realm of possibility that the team maintains some of the same weaknesses that led to their playoff demise last season.

Therefore, if the Rockets fall short this season of contention, it still remains a stark, and terrifying, possibility that Durant could choose to continue his career elsewhere: a nightmare scenario for the Rockets.