Windhorst: Kevin Durant and Rockets Expected To Reach Extension

The Rockets and Kevin Durant haven’t yet come to terms on an extension following the Rockets’ trade for the 36-year-old former MVP.

While there has been speculation that Houston is unlikely to offer Durant a full max deal and that Durant is comfortable heading into the season without a new contract in place, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports that there is a belief that the two sides will, in fact, come to terms on an extension.

Windhorst cites a source that confirms that the two sides have had discussions about an extension and believes that such a deal will materialize, though he notes that Durant may need to take a deal less than the max to stay a Rocket long-term.

Durant is still a massively talented player, averaging 26.6 points, 6 rebounds, and 4,2 assists over 62 games last season while shooting 43% from three and being named to his 15th All-Star game. However, Windhorst writes that rather than seeing Durant as the centerpiece of their team, the Rockets view him as the final puzzle piece meant to take their already highly talented collection of players, which secured the second seed in the West last season, into true contention status.

The Rockets signed Jabari Smith Jr. to a five-year extension and re-upped Fred VanVleet on a one-plus-one extension this summer. They also signed Alperen Sengun to a five-year extension last summer. Meanwhile, Tari Eason is currently extension-eligible, and Amen Thompson will soon follow suit. The team will likely need to be deliberate with its spending to avoid crowding its books in a way that makes it prohibitively expensive to keep the core together.