Rockets need for Kevin Durant could make the trade blow up in their faces

The Houston Rockets entered the offseason as one of the top potential landing spots for Kevin Durant, but the question was whether they'd be willing to part with players from their young core to get him, as well as draft assets. Luckily, the Rockets didn't need to worry about that too much, as they got KD by sending Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the No. 10 pick in the draft to the Suns.

Trading for Durant wasn't a no-brainer move for Houston, but at that price, the Rockets had to do it, especially after losing in the first round of the playoffs without a go-to scorer. They now have that in KD, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a risky move for Houston. Durant will turn 37 before the season starts, one of the main factors that worried the Rockets the most about a trade in the first place.

Durant has dealt with injuries throughout his career (they're inevitable when you've played for as long as he has), most recently missing the end of the 2024-25 season with an ankle sprain. He played 62 games this past season, and 75 the season before in his first full season in Phoenix.

That's not bad at all for a player who is in his late 30s, but that doesn't mean the 2025-26 season will be the same. Of course, that's what the Rockets hope for, but if Durant misses a chunk of time next season, Houston's championship aspirations will dim. They traded for KD to win a title, and time already isn't on their side.

Durant trade was a smart move for Rockets, but still risky

Durant has faced criticism for the way his time with his previous two teams unfolded. He was supposed to win a title in Brooklyn with the Nets, but didn't make it to the ECF. He was supposed to win a title in Phoenix with the Suns, but didn't make it to the WCF.

You can say that his shoe size kept Brooklyn from winning a championship, and you could also point to the Kyrie Irving saga. Durant's time with the Suns initially went well, but they were eliminated by the Nuggets in the second round of the 2023 playoffs. You can't blame KD for Mat Ishbia's mistakes.

Star trades don't always work out, and the Rockets know that, but they didn't want to let this opportunity slip away. Houston finished with the second-best record in the West this past season, surpassing expectations by a wide margin. The Rockets wanted to build off that success by getting Durant, who can lead a team to a championship.

Perhaps within the next two years, the KD trade will go down in history as a pivotal move that resulted in a title, or it could be a move that skyrocketed expectations, only to end in disappointment. If Durant has it his way, the former will happen. He's not focused on the money, but on winning.