Kevin Durant trade to Rockets part of NBA-record 7-team deal

Kevin Durant’s latest trade marks more than just the relocation of a former NBA MVP — it has now become part of a groundbreaking transaction involving a record number of NBA franchises.

On Sunday, the Houston Rockets confirmed that they had finalized a trade with the Phoenix Suns to acquire Durant. However, what initially began as a straightforward trade between two teams has now expanded into a league-record deal involving seven teams. This massive transaction also includes the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves, making it one of the most complex and far-reaching trades in NBA history.

Although Durant’s move from Phoenix to Houston had already been agreed upon in June, it wasn’t officially completed until now due to the intricate structure of the deal and NBA regulations that delay official approval until early July. According to NBA rules, trades that involve newly signed players or certain salary cap considerations must wait until at least July 6 to be formalized.

This monumental agreement consolidates several previously reported individual deals into one enormous multi-team arrangement. According to The Athletic, negotiations regarding this record-setting transaction had been underway for some time, with sources confirming details late Wednesday night. Now, it has been finalized and publicly announced, transforming the landscape for all seven franchises involved.

Durant, the 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player and one of the most celebrated scorers in the league, now makes his way to the Houston Rockets. In return, the Suns will receive Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, two high-impact players who had been key contributors in Houston’s recent rebuilding efforts.

The deal also sets off a chain of additional player movements. As part of the expanded trade:

• The Atlanta Hawks will receive David Roddy, a young forward previously with the Rockets.
• The Hawks are also sending veteran center Clint Capela to Houston via a sign-and-trade arrangement, bringing the Swiss big man back to the Rockets, where he spent the first six years of his career.
• Other smaller adjustments involving the remaining teams — including the Nets, Warriors, Lakers, and Timberwolves — are reportedly included to balance salaries, satisfy trade exceptions, and meet collective bargaining agreement rules. The exact details regarding those teams’ roles have not been fully disclosed as of Sunday.

Upon hearing the news, Durant took to social media to reflect on his time with the Suns and express appreciation for those who supported him during his stint in Arizona. On his official X (formerly Twitter) account, he wrote:

Durant joined the Suns midway through the 2022–23 season in a high-profile trade from the Brooklyn Nets. Though his time in Phoenix was relatively short, he left a significant mark, helping lead the team to consecutive playoff appearances and mentoring younger players along the way.

Now, his career continues in Houston, where he will join a team that has been stockpiling talent and building a new identity under head coach Ime Udoka. Coach Udoka, who previously coached Durant as an assistant on Team USA and with the Brooklyn Nets, shared his enthusiasm in an official statement released by the Rockets:

Durant’s arrival marks a clear turning point for the Rockets, who have endured several losing seasons since the departure of James Harden. With the addition of a seasoned superstar, the franchise appears to be signaling its readiness to transition from rebuilding to contending in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.

Meanwhile, the Suns will now have a new dynamic backcourt, pairing Devin Booker with Jalen Green, a promising young guard with explosive athleticism and scoring ability. Dillon Brooks, known for his tough perimeter defense and intensity, will also provide a veteran presence and defensive versatility.

From the Hawks’ perspective, adding David Roddy gives them more depth and a potential rotation player, while parting ways with Capela helps the team reconfigure its frontcourt around rising star Onyeka Okongwu. For Capela, the move back to Houston represents a homecoming of sorts, reuniting him with the franchise that originally drafted him in 2014.

This trade sets a new benchmark for collaboration among NBA teams. Until now, the record for the most franchises involved in a single trade was six — first set during the summer of 2023 when Klay Thompson was traded from the Golden State Warriors to the Dallas Mavericks. Another notable multi-team deal occurred in 2021, when five teams worked together to execute the trade that saw Russell Westbrook move from the Washington Wizards to the Los Angeles Lakers.

NBA fans have grown accustomed to blockbuster trades, especially in the modern era of player mobility, but seven teams in one transaction marks uncharted territory. It’s a reflection of how increasingly interconnected NBA teams have become, relying on complex maneuvers, cap management, and shared incentives to reshape their rosters.

Durant’s move — and the wider web of transactions it enabled — underscores how high the stakes are as teams strive to remain competitive in a league that evolves rapidly. Whether Houston’s gamble pays off in the form of postseason success or Phoenix finds greater balance through its new acquisitions remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the 2025 NBA season has already been shaken before a single tip-off.

As the dust settles on this historic deal, the basketball world will be watching closely to see how these changes translate on the court. With multiple former All-Stars on the move and a record-breaking trade behind them, all seven teams now face new challenges — and new opportunities.