NBA Star Kevin Durant Trades to Houston Rockets in Complex Deal Involving Seven Teams
The NBA's annual moratorium on business officially ended on July 6, 2025, marking the commencement of a historic, seven-team trade involving 16-time All-Star forward Kevin Durant[1][4]. This is the first time such a complex trade, involving seven teams in a single transaction, has taken place in NBA history[1][4].
## Core Trade Details
The trade saw the participation of the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Phoenix Suns[1][2][4]. The main players and assets exchanged were Kevin Durant, who was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, who moved from the Rockets to the Suns, Clint Capela, David Roddy, and Daeqwon Plowden, who were involved in the transaction, with Capela notably joining the Rockets alongside Durant[1][3]. In total, six players were included in the deal.
## Draft Picks and Other Considerations
The Houston Rockets sent the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to the Phoenix Suns, who selected center Khaman Maluach with this pick[1]. Twelve second-round picks were included in the trade, distributed among several teams, and a second-round pick swap and cash considerations were sent from Houston to Atlanta[1].
## Trade Structure
The trade's main component was the movement of Kevin Durant from Phoenix to Houston, which required the Rockets to send Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 draft pick, and five second-round picks to the Suns[1]. The complexity arose as Phoenix and other teams used the draft picks and players acquired to facilitate further deals, ultimately expanding the transaction to include a total of seven teams, six players, 13 draft picks, and cash considerations[1][2][4].
## Significance
This trade marks a significant moment for the NBA, both in terms of the number of teams involved and the quantity and variety of assets exchanged in a single transaction[1][4]. The deal allows Phoenix to restock draft assets, Houston to add a superstar and veteran center, while several other teams reshuffle rosters and future picks. The trade is reportedly the largest in NBA history.
Durant, who played 62 games in the previous season, averaging 26.6 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, expressed good wishes for his former team and expressed hope for their future. The Houston Rockets, who finished the Western Conference with the second-best record at 52-30, lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Golden State Warriors in seven games.
Notably, Durant won a fourth Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games. Golden State will get the rights to Alex Toohey and Jahmai Mashack. The Atlanta Hawks collect David Roddy, a second-round swap, and cash. The Minnesota Timberwolves get back the rights to Rocco Zikarsky, two second-round picks, and cash.
This trade was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski (Charania) of ESPN[2].
[1] ESPN. (2025). Multi-team trade sends Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. [online] Available at: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37379489/multi-team-trade-sends-kevin-durant-houston-rockets
[2] Charania, A. (2025). Sources: Rockets, Durant agree on trade to Houston, sources tell ESPN. [online] Available at: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37379489/sources-rockets-durant-agree-trade-houston-sources-tell-espn
[3] NBA.com. (2025). NBA approves historic seven-team trade. [online] Available at: https://www.nba.com/news/nba-approves-historic-seven-team-trade
[4] Sports Illustrated. (2025). Multi-team trade sends Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. [online] Available at: https://www.si.com/nba/2025/07/06/kevin-durant-trade-houston-rockets-nba-seven-team-deal-brooklyn-nets-phoenix-suns-golden-state-warriors-los-angeles-lakers-minnesota-timberwolves-atlanta-hawks
Sportspeculators are abuzz about the historic NBA trade that occurred after the annual moratorium ended on July 6, 2025. This seven-team trade, the first of its kind in NBA history, involvesSince the trade, Kevin Durant, a 16-time All-Star forward, has been transferred from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. Furthermore, this deal saw the participation of multiple teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Phoenix Suns in a single transaction, thereby reshuffling rosters and future draft picks.
