Kevin Durant is still putting up numbers that would make most stars blush, but that hasn’t stopped some around the league from wondering whether Houston could eventually decide to move him. At 37, Durant averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists across 78 games last season, good enough to land All-NBA Second Team honors. He also finished with the fourth-most total points in the NBA.
Even with that production, there’s a belief in some front offices that Durant may not carry the same trade value he once did. With a player option set for the 2027-2028 season, the Rockets could face pressure to act if next season starts badly.
If Houston does decide to explore a deal, one name has already surfaced as a possible landing spot: the Orlando Magic. Complex’s Matt Burke pointed to Orlando as a natural fit for Durant.
“Where he could be headed: A logical fit for Durant at this stage of his career and at this stage of this particular franchise’s progression is the Orlando Magic. The Magic have lost in the first round of the playoffs in three straight years. They clearly need an elite veteran to push them over the top.”
A proposed framework from Fadeaway World’s Fran Leiva would send Durant to Orlando in exchange for Franz Wagner, Anthony Black, a 2032 first-round pick, and a 2033 first-round pick swap.
From Houston’s side, the appeal comes down to timeline. Durant would push the Rockets into a clear win-now lane, but the team also has a young core featuring Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Reed Sheppard, which makes a longer runway feel very much in play.
That’s where Wagner stands out. At 25, he lines up better with Houston’s future than Durant does, and while he has not made an All-Star team yet, his 24.2 points per game in the 2024-2025 season points to real star potential.
Last season, Wagner posted 20.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 34 games. A left ankle sprain and the complications in his recovery caused him to miss time.
Wagner does a lot of his damage attacking the rim, and he brings value on the other end as a skilled defender. His limited mid-range and three-point output could create issues for Houston’s offense, though Rockets assistant coach Chip Engelland is expected to help several players clean up their mechanics next season.
Durant remains the more accomplished scorer, but Wagner fits the Rockets’ young core better and has already shown enough to suggest All-Star upside. The exact mechanics of any deal would need work, especially with Black and the draft compensation tilting the package toward Houston, but the basic Durant-for-Wagner structure looks workable enough for the Rockets to consider.
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