According to reports, the rockets acquire Kevin Durant: Fantasy Impact
Hours before the final game of the 2024-25 season, Houston Rockets made a move that will have a significant impact on the NBA panorama. According to Shams Charania by Espn, the Rockets acquired Kevin Durant by the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the tenth overall choice in the draft 2025 and five future choices of the second round.
Due to the Green contract, the agreement will not become official until 6 July, According to Keith Smith of Spotrac.
Announcement
Together with Miami and San Antonio, Houston was in Durant’s favorite destinations list. According to Charania, the Suns were engaged in interviews with the rockets and the heat before taking the package offered by the first. The Rockets add one of the great signals of all the time of the NBA after having finished seconds in the Western Conference during the regular season, while the Suns add a shooting capital but have a logjam to face the perimeter. Let’s take a look at the potential fantasy impact of this agreement.
Houston receives:
Kevin Durant
Durant is ranked eighth in the list of all times of the NBA, so there should be little or without doubt of what Houston will provide for the end of the floor. In 62 appearances this season, he scored on average 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 stolen, 1.2 blocks and 2.6 three pointers, shooting at 52.7 percent from the field, 43.0 percent from three and 83.9 percent from the foul line. For a team with offensive efficiency problems in Houston, Durant has the potential to be just what the doctor has ordered.
Announcement
However, his two full seasons in Phoenix have been the latest in which he played at least 60 games since he played in 78 games for the Warriors during the 2018-19 campaign. And with Durant destined to turn 37 to the end of September, the duration could be a concern. Having said that, Durant’s curriculum makes him the risk for a team that was in the middle of the pack in points for the game and offensive evaluation during the regular season. The efficiency of the Rockets was enhanced by the team’s ability to hit offensive glass; Houston ranked 27th in the percentage of goals on the pitch in two points and 21st in the percentage of goals on the field at three points and overall.
While he and Green did not play the same position, Houston’s decision to move two perimeter players in this trade probably makes more vital who sign Fred Vanvleet again. Rockets hold a team option for a value of $ 44.9 million on Vanvleet for 2025-26 and have until June 29 to make a decision. It has been reported that both parties are interested in keeping the partnership; The question is how the financial terms will appear, especially if Houston refuses the option in the hope of negotiating an agreement for a lower annual salary.
The departures of Green and Brooks should free further opportunities for Amen Thompson and Tari Eason, who would be music for the ears of the fantasy managers. Thompson was excellent as an appetizer last season, in the end he pushed Jabari Smith Jr. on the bench, while Eason was precious when he is healthy enough to play. I hope that the left leg injury that limited him during his first two seasons will not be a problem for Eason in 2025-26. If fully healthy, it can be a solid contribution in Standard Fantasy Championships.
Phoenix receives:
Jalen Green
Announcement
Dillon Brooks
2025 pick of the first round (tenth in total)
Five future choices of the second round
After taking Jordan Ott as head of the team coach, the new general manager of Suns Brian Gregory made his first important decision regarding the roster. Once the Suns tried to move Durant before the February commercial deadline, it was clear that his long -term future was not in Phoenix. Some could ask themselves if they could have obtained more in exchange for Durant, especially considering what Phoenix gave up to acquire it from the networks a few years ago.
Phoenix added two appetizers in Green and Brooks, but this causes a logjam on the perimeter. Bradley Beal, which holds a clause without trade, remains on the roster, as well as the devin booker corner stone. A positive regarding green is its duration, which has been a problem for Beal and Booker in recent years. Green did not lose a game from the 2022-23 season and played 76 during that campaign. In 2024-25, it represented 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 stolen and 2.9 three episodes per game, shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 81.3 percent from the foul line.
Announcement
Green also shot maximum 35.4 percent of three, but that percentage is not particularly impressive, especially if we consider what the Suns lost in Durant. It should be a key gear for the Suns in 2025-26, but being part of a rotation that includes Beal and Booker may not be the best for Green’s fantasy value, which was low in the championship category. It should remain a higher option in points championships, especially since he was able to stay healthy.
As for Brooks, the Ala veterano shot a better 39.7 percent career of three in his solitary season with the Rockets. Apparently in 75 games, he scored on average 14.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.8 stolen and 2.5 three episoders per game, shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 81.8 percent from the foul line. Brooks was a player who proved to be more precious for his team than for fantasy managers, which is not surprising since it was also the case for him in Memphis. This should not change in Phoenix, which has been among the worst defensive teams of NBA this season.
Equally crucial for Suns such as players was the capital of the project acquired in Sunday’s agreement, in particular the tenth overall choice in the draft next week. In the operations made to acquire Durant and Beal, Phoenix has given up very capital. While the total chest on Sunday does not completely close the gap, resuming the choice of the first round of 2025 who surrendered in the Durant agreement was a positive step. Of course, Phoenix will not have the total control of his choice of the first round until 2032 again, so Gregory has his work cut for himself.