Rockets have reportedly learned Kevin Durant lesson that previous teams refused to

When the Houston Rockets acquired Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns, the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference effectively put the NBA on notice. The Rockets are not only interested in building upon their success from the 2024-25 season, but officially entering the championship picture.

The difference between Houston and the teams that previously attempted to make the leap by trading for Durant, however, is that the Rockets have learned from other franchises' mistakes.

Durant spent polarizing stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns before ultimately landing in Houston. During that time, he continued to prove to be one of the best players in the world, but depleted resources played a part in his teams failing to live up to their potential.

During a recent episode of The Hoop Collective, NBA insider Tim MacMahon of ESPN reported that the Rockets' more measured approach to building with Durant includes patient tactics in regard to potential contract negotiations.

"By what I've heard, they're not going all-in on an extension for Kevin Durant...There have been rumblings of, 'Hey, KD's not going to push for the full max.' I don't know that the Rockets are going to put anything on the table that's close to the max. It's not ideal, but I don't think they would panic if they go into the season with Kevin Durant just on the contract that he's on, just on the expiring deal."

There's a realistic scenario in which Houston signs Durant to an extension, but its cautious approach is a promising sign.

Rockets aren't sacrificing their future to win with Kevin Durant

Durant is one of the greatest players in Association history, boasting a résumé to which few can hold a candle. He's a two-time NBA champion and Finals MVP, a four-time scoring champion, the 2014 regular-season MVP, and an 11-time All-NBA honoree.

Unfortunately, since leaving the Golden State Warriors, team success has been relatively elusive—an issue caused in no small part by a philosophy Houston refused to subscribe to.

The Nets acquired Durant from the Golden State Warriors and proceeded to make sweeping changes, replacing their head coach and shipping out virtually every player who'd made it a playoff team for bigger names. The Suns took a similar course of action, trading many of the individuals that helped it win 64 games the year prior to add and then support Durant.

Houston, meanwhile, has kept its core as together as possible—and is evaluating its options when it comes to Durant's next contract rather than committing to a deal that could jeopardize its vision.

On paper, there couldn't be a better fit for the Rockets' current roster than Durant. He's a skilled and gifted scorer who can help improve Houston's spacing, provide it with an elite midrange option, and take over down the stretch as a go-to scorer.

The difference between the Rockets and the Nets and Suns is that Houston is working out the logistics that go beyond talent and paper projections before committing to a long-term future.

Losing Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green stings, but Durant will step into the primary scoring role and the Rockets aren't exactly short on defensive-minded wings. They'll now move forward with a core that includes All-Stars in Durant and Alperen Sengun, an NBA champion in Fred VanVleet, and a deep cast of captivating young players such as Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson.

It'd certainly be ideal for Houston to re-sign Durant and extend a potentially fruitful partnership, but the Rockets' patience has positioned player and team alike to maximize the value of this endeavor.