We should all agree that the Phoenix Suns shouldn't have traded for Kevin Durant in the first place in 2023, but hey, at least they moved on from him last summer. Houston acquired the superstar forward, hoping he was the missing piece for a championship, but that hasn't exactly worked out as planned. He's missed two of their first three playoff games due to injury, and it doesn't look like he'll suit up in Game 4, either.
The Rockets' season could end tonight if the Lakers complete the sweep. It's hard not to wonder if Durant will be on the move again this summer.
To make matters worse for Houston, Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported that Amen Thompson responded to a question about how Durant is feeling with, "To be honest, I don't know." No one can draw conclusions based on that alone, but it doesn't sound like KD is all that engaged with his team as he rehabs.
It sure doesn't sound like he wants to stay with the Rockets, but hey, maybe that's not the case at all.
Dave McMenamin says Amen Thompson has no idea how Kevin Durant is feeling:
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) April 26, 2026
"Amen Thompson was asked how KD was feeling and he said 'To be honest with you, I don't know.' Whether that means KD has been doing all of his rehab away from the team or the team hasn't been checking in… pic.twitter.com/EnfRl1VIF3
Could Kevin Durant be on the move again this offseason?
Phoenix and Houston's season is on track to end the same way, in the first round, but that's far short of where the Rockets were supposed to end up. The Suns, on the other hand, exceeded expectations.
Imagine if Phoenix had kept Durant for another season, assuming he would've been open to hanging around. The Suns' outlook wouldn't look as promising as it does now, and they wouldn't have been able to get as much in return for him, either.
They admitted failure when they traded KD and waived and stretched the remainder of Bradley Beal's contract (not that it wasn't already evident with their lack of playoff success). It turned out to be the best thing they could've done, aside from not acquiring either player in the first place.
Durant delivered on the court for Houston during the regular season, and you can't fault him for dealing with injuries now. He's 37 years old, after all. The Rockets knew that by trading for him, they'd shorten their championship window. They thought they'd have a few years with him, but that could turn into just one.
It's nice not to be stuck in the middle, wondering what will happen next. Phoenix hitting the reset button benefited the organization in more ways than one.
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