In a landmark moment for the NBA, the league’s first-ever seven-team trade was officially completed on July 6, 2025, ushering reigning superstar Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. This unprecedented maneuver not only rewrote trade conventions but signaled a potent shift in the balance of power heading into the 2025–26 season.
A New NBA First: Seven Teams, Record-Breaking Complexity
The trade involves seven teams: the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves—making it the most expansive deal in NBA history. With six veteran players, 13–14 draft picks (several extending as far out as 2032), and cash considerations exchanged, this deal is as intricate as any seen before.
The Rockets received:
- Kevin Durant, the 15-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP.
- Clint Capela, returning to Houston after five seasons with the Hawks.
Phoenix landed a bounty:
- Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and three rookies (Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, Koby Brea).
- Valuable draft picks, including 2026 and 2032 second-rounders.
Other movements:
- Nets: two second-round picks.
- Warriors: rookies Alex Toohey and Jahmai Mashack.
- Hawks: David Roddy, a pick swap, cash.
- Lakers: forward Adou Thiero, cash.
- Timberwolves: Rocco Zikarsky, two second-rounders, cash.
Superstar Move: Durant’s Arrival in Houston
Durant, soon to turn 37, arrives in Houston boasting a 26.6 PPG average with the Suns in 2024–25 and nearly career norms: 27.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 4.4 APG, 39% 3PT.With one year left on his contract (earning $54.7 million in 2025–26) and eligible for a $122 million two-year extension, Durant looks poised to anchor a Rockets team that posted a 52–30 record and secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
Rockets GM Rafael Stone praised Durant’s ability to “impact the game on both ends” and emphasized how seamlessly he fits the team’s trajectory. Coach Ime Udoka, who previously coached Durant in Brooklyn, hopes to ensure Durant sees Houston as his final NBA home.Capela’s Return: Frontcourt Reinforcement
Complementing Durant’s offensive prowess is the return of Clint Capela, who averaged 8.9 PPG and 8.5 RPG with Atlanta but missed the latter part of the 2024–25 season due to injury.Capela offers the Rockets a dependable presence in the paint behind Alperen Şengün and Steven Adams.
Win-Win or Rebuild? Unpacking the Suns’ Strateg
Phoenix cashes in on Durant’s massive value by acquiring two dynamic veterans in Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, three young centers, and cap flexibility—complete with two future second-round picks. The Suns’ aggressive asset accumulation provides flexibility to reaffirm or reshape their roster, especially focusing around star guard Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
Domino Effect Across the League
Even teams not directly involved in the Durant hunt reaped benefits:
- Nets added mid-term value with second-round picks.
- Warriors secured promising rookies, strengthening their youth pool.
- Hawks, Lakers, and Timberwolves each strategically enhanced depth or future draft flexibility.
What began as a two-team framework gradually swelled into a full-scale, multi-team architecture—simplifying procedures and avoiding repetitive league approvals.
What This Means for Houston’s Blueprint
The Rockets are assembling a potent core: Durant, Şengün, Amen Thompson, Fred VanVleet, and Capela, setting them up as serious contenders in the West.Their payroll remains just shy of the luxurious tax threshold, giving tactical room for further moves.
Houston’s ceiling could move from playoff regulars to true title architects, with Veterans offering league-wide respect and younger talent providing energy and flexibility.
Durant Reflects and Miami Fans React
Upon the trade’s finalization, Durant expressed gratitude via X (formerly Twitter), reflecting positively on his time in Phoenix and excitement for what lies ahead with Houston.
On social media magnetism and among NBA communities, the trade sparked explosive reactions:
“This isn’t news. We knew he was a Rocket like three weeks ago.”
— Peridot_Ghost, r/sports.
“The Rockets bring in KD in a win now move.”
A New NBA Chapter Begins
Sunday’s finalized trade marks a paradigm shift in NBA trade mechanics and superstar movement. The precedent set by this seven-team deal demonstrates how team strategists can synchronize expectations, cap logistics, and future assets at scale.
For the Houston Rockets, a championship window may be opening. With Kevin Durant in their fold and Capela bolstering the interior, Houston now has a lethal formula: status, star power, and salary flexibility.
The Phoenix Suns, meanwhile, may have embraced a bold pivot, trading older talent for youth, cohesion, and financial maneuverability aimed at sustaining long-term competitiveness.
As the NBA enters a new season, all eyes will be on Houston—can Durant cement legacy success on the court? And will this historic trade spark a new era of multi-team coordination? Regardless, Sunday’s headline is clear: Kevin Durant is officially a Rocket, and the league will never look at the trade market the same way again.
