The Houston Rockets pulled off one of the most anticipated and impactful moves of the offseason, shaking up the NBA landscape ahead of next season. They acquired Kevin Durant — a superstar widely regarded by many as the greatest pure scorer in NBA history — who will suit up for the Rockets in the upcoming campaign.
However, the challenge for Houston now goes beyond enjoying Durant’s arrival. The question is whether they can keep him beyond this season. To do that, the Rockets will need to put something compelling on the table to convince Durant to commit to the franchise for the long term.
According to NBA insider Kurt Helin, Durant could sign a two-year, $100 million contract extension with Houston — roughly $20 million less than the max extension. No one will shed tears for the newly minted Rockets star, who is entering the final year of a four-year, $195 million deal that will pay him $54 million this season. With his 37th birthday approaching next month, Durant’s age is becoming a factor, but his production and impact remain undeniable.
This possibility marks an interesting shift from earlier reports. Just days ago, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon noted that the Rockets were prioritizing preserving salary cap space for 2027. As a result, the team was reportedly hesitant to offer Durant a near-supermax deal when his current contract expires after the 2025-26 season.
“By all appearances and by what I’ve heard, they’re not going all in on an extension for Kevin Durant,” MacMahon said. “Now, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but there’ve been rumblings that KD won’t push for the full max. I don’t know that the Rockets are going to put anything on the table that’s close to the max.”
Even so, a $50 million annual salary is nearly the most Houston could realistically offer, and it’s a figure both sides could agree upon. The Rockets, however, are unlikely to extend Durant’s contract for more than two years.
From Houston’s perspective, this structure makes sense in both the short and long term. Durant provides immediate championship-caliber impact, giving the Rockets a legitimate shot to contend in the Western Conference right away. At the same time, he brings invaluable leadership to a young roster that needs a veteran presence to guide its development.
With rising stars like Alperen Şengün leading the next generation in Houston, having Durant as both a scoring force and a mentor could be the spark that elevates the Rockets from a promising young squad to a legitimate NBA powerhouse.