Kevin Durant’s first season in Houston gave the Rockets plenty to think about, but not necessarily a reason to slam the door on him after one year. The 38-year-old, who turns 38 on Sept. 29, delivered the kind of production that still makes him hard to walk away from: 78 games played, his most in more than a decade, more than 41 percent shooting from 3-point range and 26 points per game. For stretches, he looked like the player who could carry Houston deep into the playoffs before injuries wiped out all but one postseason game.
That’s where the debate starts. The Rockets got real value from Durant on the floor, but the first season also came with the usual cloud of speculation around his relationships and future.
Now there are rumors Houston could send him to Detroit, with All-Star center Jalen Duren also facing a major decision of his own after a rough playoff run and a looming expensive payday. Durant didn’t exactly cool things off, either, posting himself in a Detroit cap on Instagram.
He has also talked about playing with All-Star Cade Cunningham.
Still, Houston’s situation is bigger than the noise. Durant was the engine of the offense, and it would be a major shift to move on this quickly unless he makes it clear he doesn’t want to stay.
If the Rockets are winning, the chatter about burner accounts and teammates won’t matter much. What matters more is whether Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. keep growing.
Fred VanVleet’s return also changes the picture after his torn ACL before training camp altered the season from the start.
The Rockets should also get Steven Adams back after his January ankle surgery, giving them depth they lacked for much of a 52-30 season that still ended well short of expectations with a six-game loss to the Lakers. Around Durant, Houston has already built roles that depend on him being there: Sengun in the two-man game, Smith getting cleaner looks, Thompson focusing on defense first. Pulling out now would mean the organization sees the current path as untenable, and there’s little in the source material to suggest that’s the case.
At the same time, Durant’s offensive value is not in question. His numbers in Houston were basically in line with what he did in his final season in Phoenix, and he remains one of the league’s elite scorers.
The leadership piece is murkier. If he’s looking elsewhere, as he has at other stops, then Houston has to consider whether he can truly be the 1A on a team with championship ambitions.
That’s why the most practical approach is patience. Durant is a major piece, but he was never brought in to be the lone answer to a title.
The Rockets need Sengun, Thompson and Smith to become the best versions of themselves if this is going to turn into something real. Houston should listen if offers come, but only move Durant if the return is too good to pass up.
For now, the case for keeping him is simple: he’s still one of the best and most efficient scorers in the game, and Houston needs that kind of closer. If Durant wants out, he’ll say so. Until then, the Rockets should keep building around him, Thompson and Sengun, while adding more shooting.
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