The Rockets plan to let Kevin Durant become a free agent

This summer, in the NBA, there are many teams that have significantly strengthened for the upcoming 2025/26 season of the top North American basketball competition. One of those franchises is the Houston Rockets, which has become one of the favorites in the Western Conference thanks to signings like that of Kevin Durant.

The Rockets had been pursuing Kevin Durant for several years. Every time a transfer market opened, even during his time with the Brooklyn Nets, Houston inquired about him. In the end, the Texas team managed to reach the desired trade agreement with the Phoenix Suns early in the summer. In exchange, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks were sent to Arizona.

For the Houston Rockets, it was crucial to have that star who could lead a team full of young talent like Alperen Sengun or Amen Thompson. There's also Fred VanVleet as a veteran, but he doesn't have the same level anymore to bear the responsibility of everyone in the playoffs. Something that Durant can do, who has also been joined by signings like Dorian Finney-Smith or the return of Clint Capela.

Despite his exciting arrival to the Rockets, Houston doesn't want to lose its mind over Kevin Durant. The team is aware of the player's age and the fact that he doesn't have many years left in the NBA. Therefore, as Tim MacMahon from ESPN points out from NBA Rumors, the Texas franchise will not rush into his renewal and will wait until he becomes a free agent in 2026 to decide whether to extend his contract.

"The Rockets are not going to bet everything. It seems that they are not going to bet everything on Kevin Durant's renewal. However, that doesn't mean it won't happen, but there are rumors that KD won't push to get the maximum. I don't know if the Rockets will put something close to the maximum on the table," said MacMahon.

The Rockets, with their philosophy

Brian Windhorst, also from ESPN, shared his information on this matter: "I think the Rockets don't find it ideal, but I don't think they will be scared if they start the season with Kevin Durant just on his existing contract, which is about to expire."

"Well, this is one of the things I talked about when Durant was on the market, whether a team saw Durant as an expiring player and would be comfortable with him on an expiring contract or if they felt they had to give him a two-year extension for 110 to 120 million and that would affect what teams would pay for him. Rafael Stone, since he has been the general manager of the Rockets, has signed quite a few giant contracts, but most of them have been short."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Rockets planean dejar a Kevin Durant convertirse en agente libre