Interest in the trade for Kevin Durant continues to grow, with reports indicating that the pending transaction involving the Rockets and Suns may evolve into a remarkable seven-team deal, as noted by The Athletic. The potential participant teams include the Nets, Warriors, Lakers, Hawks, and Timberwolves, all playing a role in facilitating this complex trade.
If realized, this trade would surpass last summer’s record six-team deal that saw Klay Thompson move to the Mavericks from the Warriors as part of a sign-and-trade arrangement. Although the Rockets and Suns reached an agreement on June 22, the deal won’t be finalized until the NBA’s new year commences on July 6.
Under the current framework, the Rockets would acquire Durant in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick from last month’s draft, a 2025 second-round pick, and four additional second-round picks, according to ESPN. The Suns used the No. 10 pick to draft Duke center Khaman Maluach and selected Kentucky guard Koby Brea at No. 41 after moving up from the No. 59 position.
The peculiar timing of these trades often leads to players wearing gear from different teams on draft night, as the league is unable to officially acknowledge the trades immediately. The potential seven-team deal appears to consolidate several prior agreements, including the acquisition of Clint Capela by the Rockets.
This monumental trade would reportedly involve only five players who participated in the 2024-25 NBA season: Durant, Brooks, Green, Capela, and Hawks guard Daeqwon Plowden, with the remainder consisting of players from unfinalized draft-day trades.
The Rockets’ high-profile acquisition positions them as a leading title contender for the 2025-26 season, where they currently share the third-best championship odds according to BetMGM. Conversely, the Suns find themselves at the opposite end of the spectrum, tied for the second-lowest odds at 750/1 following the dismantling of their Big 3 era featuring Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker.
