Rockets retain six young cores, and the odds of winning the championship rise to second in the Western Conference

ESPN reporter Shams Charania reported that several sources revealed that the Suns and the Rockets reached a big deal: Kevin Durant was sent to the Rockets for Jaylen Green, Dillon Brooks, this year's No. 10 and 5 second round picks. The transaction will be completed after the new fiscal year officially takes effect (July 7). After the

trade broke out, the Rockets' odds in the 2025-26 season changed from 1 to 18 in the penalty area (equivalent to 1 compensation of 8.5), second only to the Thunder (+220) in the entire West. Meanwhile, the Sun's odds fell from 100 to 100 in compensation to 1300 in compensation. The Suns did not enter the Western Conference playoffs in the 2024-25 season, while the Rockets were second in the West, but were eliminated by the Warriors 3-4 in the first round.

Durant, who is about to turn 37, averaged 26.6 points per game in the 2024-25 season, with a real shooting percentage of 64.2%. This is Durant's 12th consecutive season, with a real shooting percentage of over 60%, which is an NBA record. Although the Rockets lost Jaylen Green and Dillon Brooks, they retained six young core players (Alperen Shinkin, Amen Thompson, Tari Ethan, Jabary Smith, Shepard and Whitmore), and also saved the two first-round picks in their hands.