12:15 pm: Durant’s extension is now official, the Rockets announced in a press release (Twitter link).
8:02 am: The Rockets and star forward Kevin Durant have agreed to terms on a new two-year contract extension, his business partner Rich Kleiman tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). According to Charania, the deal is worth $90MM and includes a second-year player option for the 2027/28 season.
Houston was one of the teams on Durant’s list of preferred destinations when the Suns put him on the trade block during the summer, so there was an expectation after the two teams agreed to a deal that Durant and the Rockets would work out an agreement of their own sooner or later.
However, there was also a sense that the Rockets weren’t willing to give Durant the maximum extension he was been eligible for, which was worth roughly $119MM over two years (based on a projected $166MM cap). That maximum salary figure would’ve increased slightly at the six-month mark after the trade, but the 37-year-old couldn’t sign an extension longer than two years due to the over-38 rule.
Ultimately, the two sides agreed to an extension that will see Durant take a pay cut from his current $54.7MM salary but still represents a massive payday for a player entering his 19th NBA season. According to Charania (Twitter link), there was an understanding when Durant was dealt to the Rockets that he wouldn’t push for a maximum contract in order to help the team maintain flexibility to build and retain its roster going forward.
Durant has expressed this fall that he feels comfortable in Houston, where he has reunited with one-time Seattle SuperSonics teammate Jeff Green (story via Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle) and fellow University of Texas alums Royal Ivey, D.J. Augustin, and Dexter Pittman, each of whom has a role within the Rockets’ organization (story via Lerner). As Chris Mannix of SI.com wrote in a feature story earlier this week, Durant is hopeful that he’ll retire as a Rocket.
“I’m looking to be here as long as I can, play my last years of my career,” he said. “That’s the intent. I know, I said that about Phoenix, too, but that’s the intent. I would love to do that. I mean, I’m 37 years old and I’m going on 19 years in the league. I want to be solidified in a spot and build with a team with a group of guys that’s going to be around for a while. So hopefully this is it.”
Although Durant’s stint with the Suns didn’t play out as he or the team hoped, the 15-time All-Star continued to put up monster offensive numbers during his time in Phoenix. In 62 games last season, he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 36.5 minutes per night, with a shooting line of .527/.430/.839.
The Rockets are optimistic that Durant’s ability to score in the half-court setting will raise their ceiling after they struggled in those situations, especially in crunch time, during last season’s first-round playoff series vs. Golden State.
As Bobby Marks of ESPN notes (via Twitter), Houston was projected to be about $80MM below the second tax apron in 2026/27 prior to Durant’s deal. His new salary will come in low enough to allow the club to extend Tari Eason and fill out its roster in free agency next summer while remaining below that threshold. Eason is eligible to sign a rookie scale extension today or Monday — if he doesn’t work out a deal with the Rockets at this time, he’ll be a restricted free agent next summer.
According to Charania (Twitter link), Durant’s new contract – including the player option – increases his total career current and future earnings to over $598MM, which is an NBA record. LeBron James was the previous record-holder, coming in just below $584MM.
As expected – this was the result of the handshake deal made at the time of the trade.
There’s handshake deals every day all the time in every business.
Also look at the recent examples just for the Warriors. Al Horford, Gary Payton, Seth Curry, DeAnthony Melton, etc.
The rockets were such a promising team. Then they got KD
They didnt sacrifice much in the trade in terms of talent, but having KD on your team will definitely take the ball away from guys like Sengun and Amen at times.
They got a sniper. Seemed like that’s what they may have lacked last season in the playoffs?
I applaud their attempt to go all in and fill that role with a guy who still one of the best in the business.
Teams that sit on their hands and do nothing are anathema.
And now they are a contender….. with FVV their odds were as high as second to win it all.
No they’re not.
I mean he has left some fairly decimated franchises in his wake in BRK/PHX…
Phoenix will be better this year
Chap yeah if that’s the discussion then sure he sucks for that but I guess I was looking at his play on the floor. But I guess you have to look at the whole picture. Good point.
He’s making $1M per game. Yes, because he’s going to sit out all the others for one reason or another.
Stud starting pitchers in Major league baseball who make 30 starts make $1 million a game as well. That’s been the case a few years.
By the way, that’s $10,000 per pitch.., if they throw 100 pitches. Big if nowadays too.
Going by your 45 game season and Taking that a step further while not thinking about the other things Kevin Durant does in a game like rebounding, defense, assists, etc., that’s $50,000 per shot, make or miss lol
Pretty nice work if you can get it lol
Don’t be silly. Defense isn’t in the contract extension.
KD can not put your team over the hump anymore. Nor can LeBron, demar DeRozan, Westbrook, PG. This guys are old and LeBron and KD are second option guys. I know people are going to come over here and say look at their points per game, but if you actually watch the impact of the game they are incapable of the grind of a full season and carrying a team. So the pay cut is a start, although I would have loved to see him in the ’30s. That would I maximize the team’s cap so they could go out and get a point guard. LeBron really doesn’t want to win and if it wasn’t for Mickey mouse clubhouse. He actually wouldn’t have won anything since 2016. 50 million is way too much of a cap for a guy who can’t control the game completely and handle the grind of a full regular season. Both of them should be in the 30’s if they are serious about winning championships.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse?
As far as the $45 million per season for KD, then why would the Rockets give it to him if he wasn’t worth it?
Why not hold out and pay him only $38 million per season? Why is that so?
I’m not saying I disagree with your premise. I’m just asking how come it is not so?
HE got the contract because he has the leverage. This is KD’s last team and he left they gave up players for nothing. ALSO they are pretty much in championship mode so they can’t hold out. Like I said I’m glad he took a little bit of a cut but around 35 would have been fair for KD and and enough to bring another player in. I actually like KD, and know of him. I grew up in the DMV and played damantha before I moved to Philly my JR year of highschool. I however don’t like how you skipped the winning process joining GS and that’s why he can’t hold and win other championships. However I hope the rockets do well just don’t think they are better than OKC,Dalles, clippers, min, GS and my dark horse for a top 4 seed is San Antonio. That leaves No, Hus, and LaL. Fighting for the play-in spots
i know im late to the party
but the Suns got a massive haul for 75 yr old durant who cant W without steph
rockets got fleeced
and is 7 total tms the most tms involved in 1 trade in nba history? god damn
the senior citizens can still post relatively good regular season numbers .. but get neutralize once the playoffs roll around
Yes, I think you’re right. By then the grind of the season has caught up with them and their bodies.
But even the younger guys in their early 30s or even younger are blowing their Achilles after the long season. Not sure what’s up with today’s NBA but at least they’re trying to address it with fewer back-to-backs, etc..
It’s funny, someone mentioned the other night that teams played 18-20 preseason games in 1970 lol. What do they play today, five or six? I guess they’re trying to preserve players but it’s still an issue.
It has nothing to do with back to back. Players back in the day played 37 minutes a game and almost all 82.
The reason why they get hurt is the tork and movement these players do (AKA the Bag). These players are incapable of scoring in what we can the box. Get it and go. Mid range lay ups. If you actually watch Curry he doesn’t bomb. 3s all game. His off ball and mid range sets a lot of it up. Now he is the one player that could but that’s what makes him great. Tatum uses too much effort to score. It looks great but they need to learn how to get right too it. As much crap I give LeBron he get a quick bucket like Paul Pierce, camelo Anthony, MJ, Kobe, baron Davis. The list goes on
Yes this is the basketball geniuses ball here.
Teams win chips. When will you learn that. Rockets were one of worst scoring teams in 4th Q last yr. And in the playoffs. That’s the reason KD is in Houston. Not to carry them. To show up and score 25 a game. When you have a guaranteed scorer. It makes it easier for everyone else to score. So the Rockets offensive woes from last year. Shouldn’t be an issue with KD this year. Its called chemistry and team fit. It’s what offenses are built on ……
last year 2024-25 Rockets had second worst
FG% (.437) in the 4th Quarter. You do understand when you win games. Or you need that explained too.
Not only will KD be a top 5 scorer this year. He is about to rewrite the record books the next three years. Thats why he gets paid. And he left 29 mill on the table ……. Like ALL of you would.
He didn’t leave $29M on the table. He has the same agent as Kawhi.
KD is replacing Dillon and Amen is replacing Green on the starting 5. Green is a nice player. But he isn’t a closer or a star yet. KD is. Amen is a future star. He is a good 2way player NOW. And will be one of best in NBA soon. So how can the Rockets possibly be worse by exchanging those two players. Losing FVV is major. But I’m sure they will address it as soon as possible. KD window is NOW. So Rockets eventually will trade for a PG. imo they will go after Jrue.
Rockets and Nuggets are the two teams that can dethrone Thunder. That’s what all experts and odds makers predicted. After KD trade. Jrue is better than FVV ………. so imagine that.
KD’s fault for joining poorly run franchises like Nets and Suns.
But let’s not sell him out more than that.