“While Durant… is known to be very interested in playing in Houston, team sources said the Rockets still have significant reservations about that possible partnership,” The Athletic reports.
In rumors connecting them to Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Houston Rockets have already been linked on the NBA’s 2025 offseason trade market to a forward with Most Valuable Player (MVP) pedigree and a future Hall of Fame plaque.
But that logic seemingly won’t be applied to Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, another perennial All-Star and Hall of Famer in waiting.
In a newly published story, The Athletic’s Kelly Iko and Sam Amick explain why:
While Durant is widely seen as the most attainable of that group, and he is known to be very interested in playing in Houston, team sources said the Rockets still have significant reservations about that possible partnership, in large part, because Durant’s age (36) would be so out of sync with their younger timeline. It’s worth noting that previous talks between the teams about Durant, team sources said, were initiated by the Suns.
In contrast to Durant, Antetokounmpo is just 30 years old. That six-year age gap could be significant for a Houston team that currently features a young core consisting of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Reed Sheppard.
All are 23 or younger.
Antetokounmpo is still older than the 23-and-under group, of course — but the gap is much more manageable when it comes to timeline plans.
In addition to those younger players and veteran contracts, the Rockets also have a desirable amount of future NBA draft capital that could be used in any marquee trade pursuits during the 2025 offseason. It appears Antetokounmpo could be on that list, but Durant apparently is not.
A 6-foot-11 forward, Durant averaged 26.6 points (52.7% FG, 43.0% on 3-pointers), 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 62 games this season. In February, the former MVP earned his 15th career All-Star selection.