Kevin Durant is still putting up the kind of numbers that make front offices stop and pay attention. At 37, he averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists across 78 games last season and landed on the All-NBA Second Team. That kind of production usually keeps a player planted firmly in the “untouchable” bucket.
But Houston may not see it that way for long.
The Rockets could be pushed toward a decision before February’s trade deadline, especially with Durant holding a player option for the 2027-2028 season. If he’s unhappy with how things are going, he can opt in and then head toward free agency. Recent reports have also created the sense that some NBA front offices no longer view him as a premium trade asset, which only raises the pressure on Houston to act before his value becomes harder to maximize.
One idea floating around sends Durant to the Knicks in a package built around OG Anunoby, Pacome Dadiet, and draft compensation. The logic is straightforward: New York gets a proven scorer for a title push, while Houston brings back a player who could fit the next stage of its roster.
Anunoby just finished a strong season for the Knicks, averaging 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals in 67 games while earning a spot on the league’s All-Defensive Second Team. He then turned in an even sharper run in the NBA Finals, putting up 21.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals over five games.
That stretch has only added to the belief that an All-Star leap could be coming. HoopsHype lists him at No. 12 among the top power forwards heading into the upcoming season.
“Anunoby is far from a star, but he’s a downright superstar role player, a slashing small-ball power forward with a ridiculous wingspan at nearly 7-foot-2, who can defend guards, wings or bigs at a high level, while creating steals by poking away loose ball-handles or jumping passing lanes, as well as protecting the rim…The former Indiana standout is the prototypical 3-and-D type, except he’s got scoring juice off the dribble, too, making him a huge weapon on both ends.”
From New York’s side, the appeal is obvious. Durant would be an immediate offensive jolt for a team with its championship window wide open. Still, there’s also a case for staying with Anunoby and betting on his upside instead of leaning on Durant’s age and future uncertainty.
For Houston, Anunoby would bring more than just scoring. He would strengthen the defense on the wing and fit the timeline of a young core that includes Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Tari Eason, all of whom are under contract through at least 2030.
Even so, the odds of Durant being moved before next summer look slim. Houston reached a 50+ win record without being at full strength, and that makes it tough to picture the team in a rush to break anything up before February. Still, if Durant’s second season in Houston goes off the rails, the Knicks could be the cleanest trade partner on the board.
In Other News...
Rockets May Value Amen Thompson Far More Than Anyone Expected
Amen Thompsons rise inside Houston has become one of the more intriguing threads around the Rockets, especially as his growth keeps drawing attention beyond the usual box score conversation. Publicly available metrics already paint him as an impact player, but the deeper question is how the organization itself is measuring his value as he continues to sharpen the athleticism and shooting that made him such a fascinating prospect in the first place.
What makes the situation worth watching is what Houston may be saying without really saying it. The team has every reason to view Thompson as a core piece, and the way his profile is being framed suggests the Rockets are far more inclined to build around him than entertain outside interest. For a player still early in his development, that kind of internal belief can matter just as much as the numbers attached to him. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Fans May Hate Which Core Piece Gets Left Exposed
Adam Silvers latest update on possible NBA expansion has reopened a familiar what-if around Houston, even if nothing is close to official yet. With Las Vegas and Seattle still in the conversation but no final vote on the table, the Rockets suddenly have another layer of roster planning to think about, and the exercise is less about fantasy than it is about which young core pieces would be too valuable to risk.
Under the old 2004 expansion rules, Houston would have to make some hard choices about who stays protected and who gets left exposed. The obvious center of the discussion is the top of the roster, but the real discomfort comes after that, when the margin gets thin and the final protected spots start to matter. For a team trying to build around its core, the possibility of losing a useful piece for nothing is exactly the sort of complication that makes expansion talk feel a little too real. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Just Got A Major Vote Of Confidence In Their Future
ESPNs latest future power rankings offered a clear sign that the Rockets are viewed as one of the NBAs most promising long-term bets. The list evaluates more than just where a team stands today, weighing roster upside, draft capital, coaching and front-office strength, financial flexibility and market appeal, and Houston checked a lot of the right boxes.
The Rockets drew strong marks for their collection of young talent and the depth of their draft assets, while veterans such as Fred VanVleet help round out the outlook. For a franchise trying to turn potential into sustained wins, that kind of national recognition matters, even if the real test is still coming as the roster continues to develop and the Western Conference keeps tightening around it. [Read more 🡒]