The Rockets just went from a promising young core to immediate playoff contenders. Pairing Durant with players like Jalen Green, Fred VanVleet, and Alperen Şengün gives them a deadly mix of experience and rising talent. Ime Udoka now has a legit go-to superstar who can close games and bring leadership — something Houston’s been missing since the Harden era.
As for Phoenix — they’re clearly hitting reset. Durant’s exit likely signals that the Big 3 experiment is officially over. Now the Suns will need to rebuild depth and find a new identity around Booker (if he stays).
This is one of the most surprising moves of the offseason, but maybe also one of the smartest — for both sides.