The Houston Rockets‘ high-stakes acquisition of Kevin Durant in July, a part of the NBA’s first seven-team commerce, despatched shockwaves throughout the league.
But regardless of securing the 15-time All-Star and powering up their lineup alongside Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Fred VanVleet, Houston is taking an unexpectedly cautious stance on providing Durant a contract extension, even because the season nears.
In accordance with ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, talking on the Hoop Collective podcast, “there’s not a way of urgency to get it completed proper now” when discussing whether or not Durant and the Rockets ought to finalize a brand new deal earlier than coaching camp.
He added, “They may work collectively… I do not assume you are going to see panic from both aspect.”
Affected person strategy dominates the dialog
The participant and the group seem aligned, or no less than in settlement, {that a} methodical strategy advantages everybody.
Experiences counsel Durant himself “is not going to push for the complete max,” whereas the Rockets likewise appear unconvinced about providing a most extension.
This two-way restraint appears strategic. The franchise is defending future cap area, with a wave of key extensions on the horizon: Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun already secured, whereas Amen Thompson and Tari Eason loom giant for 2027 choices.
In the meantime, Fred VanVleet‘s deal and Dorian Finney-Smith‘s non-guaranteed choices additionally expire round that point.
Doing the mathematics, the Rockets can legally supply Durant a two-year, up-to-$122-million extension, however insiders suspect any deal will are available in decrease, presumably round $100 million, or in any other case stay open till post-season or past.
Why restraint stands out as the smartest play
There’s actual logic underpinning the cautious choreography. Durant, set to earn about $54.7 million this season below his expiring contract, turns into an unrestricted free agent in 2026 if no extension materializes.
For the Rockets, permitting him to play out this season with out speeding right into a pricey deal preserves their means to deal with the long run: rewarding younger expertise, sustaining a balanced roster, and navigating luxury-tax thresholds.
That mentioned, there are additionally long-term indicators in play. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that each side goal for Durant to “finish his profession in Houston,” calling their alignment a real partnership reasonably than a short lived association.
This isn’t brinkmanship for its personal sake. It displays a balancing act the place championship competition and financial prudence intersect. The Rockets are usually not “all-in” on a max-level extension, neither is Durant forcing their hand.
Their key belongings and future flexibility stay intact, with the potential of reinvesting relying on how the season unfolds.
As MacMahon famous: “It is not ideally suited, however I do not assume they’d panic in the event that they go into the season with Kevin Durant simply on the contract that he is on, simply on the expiring deal.”
