Kevin Durant Officially Joins Houston Rockets: Breaking Down The Historic Seven-Team NBA Trade
Well, it's official. Kevin Durant is now a Houston Rocket after the NBA approved a record-setting seven-team trade on Sunday.
The blockbuster deal, involving Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, Minnesota, Golden State, Brooklyn, and the Los Angeles Lakers, marks the largest multi-team trade in league history.
Thirteen players were included in the transaction. The key moves saw Durant head to Houston from Phoenix, with the Rockets sending Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the draft rights to Khaman Maluach to the Suns. Houston also acquired center Clint Capela from the Atlanta Hawks.
This deal surpasses last summer's six-team trade that notably sent Klay Thompson to Dallas. That transaction also involved Golden State, Charlotte, Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Denver.
The trade includes at least five second-round picks, a possible pick swap, and cash considerations to satisfy salary cap rules. Some picks won't convey until as late as 2032, meaning players involved in the trade's future impact may still be in middle school.
Durant's Return to Texas
Durant averaged 26.6 points last season in his 17th year in the NBA, excluding one missed year, due to his Achilles injury.
He is also a four-time scoring champion, a two-time Finals MVP, and one of eight players in NBA history with more than 30,000 career points.
This move marks Durant's return to Texas, where he starred at the University of Texas before being selected No. 2 overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007.
Houston becomes his fifth NBA team after stints with Seattle/Oklahoma City, Golden State, Brooklyn, and Phoenix.
Along with Green, Brooks, and Maluach, the Rockets sent the Suns a 2026 second-round pick and another in 2032. The Hawks received David Roddy, cash, and a 2031 pick swap. The Brooklyn Nets got 2026 and 2030 second-round picks, while the Golden State Warriors acquired the rights to rookie Jahmai Mashack.
(with AP inputs)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Skip Bayless sparks outrage after calling LeBron James a 'con artist' over Cleveland Cavaliers facility visit
(Image Source - Getty Images) LeBron James stepped into familiar territory at the Cleveland Cavaliers' facility this summer—and suddenly, chaos followed. A simple offseason workout photo with Denver Jones blew up the internet and sent rumors swirling about a potential Lakers exit. As fans speculated, Skip Bayless threw gasoline on the fire, calling it a calculated stunt. What seemed routine turned into NBA drama overnight, with $52.6 million and legacy chatter fueling the flames. LeBron James trains at Cleveland Clinic Courts every summer LeBron James has long used the Cavs' Cleveland Clinic Courts to prepare in the off-season—a practice he emphasized in a July 5 X post — 'And every summer since it was built. I live here still and train every summer… Got damn y'all bored man!'. Although the comment was meant for fans who were a bit bored, the image of him alongside summer-league guard Denver Jones stirred up fresh rumors about him possibly leaving the Lakers. His decision to go for the $52.6 million player option for 2025-26 only heightened the speculation. — KingJames (@KingJames) Skip Bayless wasted no time turning the visit into controversy. On The Skip Bayless Show, he labeled it 'the biggest scam in NBA history,' Bayless is accusing James of manipulating the Lakers and the media narrative with that image. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo He dismissed LeBron's explanation as just a bunch of spin, even nicknaming him "LeCon James" and questioning why this secret training is now out in the open. While he pointed out the Lakers' disappointing playoff loss to Minnesota, his claims still feel overblown and lack concrete proof. LeCON JAMES JUST FLIPPED THE SCRIPT FROM PLAYOFF DISASTER TO 'THE LAKERS FAILED AND BETRAYED HIM' Born in Akron, James had an 11-season run with the Cavaliers (2003–2010, 2014–2018), famously securing the team's first NBA championship in 2016. It's no wonder he comes back every summer. Rich Paul , LeBron's agent, left the possibility of a trade open based on the Lakers' roster improvements, but he stated that there haven't been any official talks yet. At the same time, Cleveland lacks the salary cap room to take on James' $52.6 million deal. Sources have mentioned that four teams have shown interest, but no solid offers have come through. Also Read: Jordan Clarkson signs $3.6M deal with New York Knicks after the Utah Jazz buyout The picture taken at the Cavs facility, along with LeBron's cheeky yet sharp X response, feels like a deliberate act of showmanship—or just an athlete hanging out in his hometown. Bayless obviously went with the first option, igniting a national discussion. However, all the evidence—from contract numbers to Cleveland's salary cap limits—indicates that the visit was harmless. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Haliburton to miss 2025–26 season after Achilles injury in NBA Finals, confirms Pacers
The Indiana Pacers will be without their franchise cornerstone for the entire 2025–26 season. Guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his right Achilles tendon during the first quarter of Game 7 of the NBA Finals , and team president Kevin Pritchard confirmed Monday that the All-Star will not return until the following season. Haliburton had been playing through a right calf strain before going down in Indiana's 103–91 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the title-deciding game. "I have no doubt he'll be back better than ever," Pritchard said. "But he will not play next year. We're not going to jeopardize his long-term health. Don't get your hopes up." ALSO READ: Can AI help in curbing increasing Achilles tendon injuries in the NBA? The 24-year-old was instrumental in Indiana's first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, averaging 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals during the playoff run. His highlight-reel moment came in Game 1, when he drilled a game-winning buzzer-beater to stun the Thunder and set the tone for a thrilling series. Live Events "He plays best when he's hungry, and I'm guessing next year he'll be champing at the bit to prove he's back," Pritchard said. "We saw clutch shot-making from him that I've never seen before in the NBA." Haliburton underwent surgery on June 23 and has reportedly started his rehab on a positive note. Still, the road ahead is long. "He's doing great," Pritchard added. "But the real work starts now. It's going to be tough." Despite the crushing setback, Pritchard remains optimistic about the Pacers' future, though he acknowledged the absence of their floor general will be felt. "We were 24 minutes and an injury away," he said. "We'll face some challenges with Ty out, but we still like our group. When he returns, it'll be the cherry on top." Haliburton, ever the competitor, said he wouldn't change a thing - even knowing the outcome. But Pritchard offered a more emotional perspective. "Would I have him do it over again? No," Pritchard admitted. "If I knew he'd get hurt, I would've sacrificed that game because I care for him that much." Adding to the blow, Indiana also lost veteran center Myles Turner , who signed a four-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency, further shaking up the Pacers' core.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Jordan Clarkson signs $3.6M deal with New York Knicks after the Utah Jazz buyout
(Image Source - Getty Images) The New York Knicks have taken the turn around. There is change happening, or more to the point there is change once Jordan Clarkson, one of the NBA most exciting third unit scorers is on board along with Mike Brown going to send the system in a spin. There was no tweaking in this summer. It was to make inefficiencies as weapons. And on top of it, they got Clarkson and Yabusele and a new vision of coaching, so the Knicks are looking deeper, sharper and hungrier than ever. Coach Mike Brown in charge, bench scoring overhaul underway This summer, the Knicks didn't waste any time in reshaping their roster. They added Jordan Clarkson, a solid spark off the bench, which helped them fix a major flaw—bench production—that affected them in the 2024‑25 postseason. Clarkson averaged a notable 16.2 points with Utah last season, even with some missed games due to plantar fasciitis and a career-low shooting percentage of 40.8 percent. Nevertheless, his reputation as a microwave scorer is still strong: he's racked up more bench points than anyone else in the last five years. With Clarkson's arrival, Mike Brown has been hired as the head coach. He officially takes charge with the task of improving an offense that was stagnant under Tom Thibodeau, aiming for more ball movement and a higher frequency of 3-point shots. Brown will lead a team that features Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns, along with the newly acquired Guerschon Yabusele. The leadership is focused on achieving a good balance between star players and essential depth. The Knicks have made some smart financial decisions. They brought in Clarkson for a veteran's minimum and used the taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Yabusele for two years at $12 million, spending under $8 million to boost their rotation. Now, they're just below the second salary cap apron, which leaves room for a couple of veteran minimum signings to finalize their 14-man roster. Also Read: Indiana Pacers confirm Tyrese Haliburton will miss 2025–26 NBA season after torn achilles in game 7 loss With Clarkson delivering quick points, Yabusele offering size and shooting ability, and Brown gearing up to transform the approach, the Knicks have established a foundation for a deeper, more dynamic squad. The Eastern Conference powerhouse is clearly showing it's not content with just being good—it's reaching for greatness. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
