The trade to move Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets has become increasingly complex. Initially thought to be a straightforward deal, it now reportedly involves seven teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and more—setting a new NBA record for the most teams involved in a single trade.
Although the deal hasn’t been finalized yet and the details are still being worked out, it’s expected to surpass the previous record involving six teams in a Klay Thompson trade last summer. Despite the complicated nature of this multi-team trade, much of the agreement was already in place, with no significant new developments. The known part of the deal sends Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns to the Rockets in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and several draft picks. Daeqwon Plowden is reportedly the only additional player involved, and insiders suggest the core deal remains a six-team trade. The newly added seventh team seems to be connected to a sign-and-trade move involving Clint Capela heading to Houston.
The transaction is not expected to be officially completed until July 6th, when the NBA free agency period begins, although negotiations started recently. If this seven-team trade goes through as currently structured, it will be remembered as one of the most intricate deals in NBA history—illustrating how complex and lengthy big trades in the league can become.
Fan Take: This multi-team trade highlights how superstar moves are evolving into highly strategic and multi-faceted transactions, reflecting the growing complexity of roster building in the NBA. For fans, it means more drama and excitement but also an intricate chess game behind the scenes that shapes the future of teams and the league.