Rockets, Kevin Durant not close on contract extension

Kevin Durant has yet to sign an extension with the Houston Rockets, and nearly two months after arriving from Phoenix, there are no signs that a deal is close.

Durant remains headed toward free agency next summer with an expiring contract worth $54.7 million.

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon recently reported that Houston may not offer Durant a full maximum extension, and that Durant and his representatives might not be pushing for one. MacMahon added the Rockets are not expected to panic if the season begins without an agreement in place.

Durant, 36, is eligible to sign a two-year extension through June 30 of next year that could pay as much as $120.4 million. That deal would start at $57.9 million for the 2026-27 season and increase to $62.5 million in 2027-28.

If he allows the current contract to expire, Durant could pursue a three-year maximum deal valued at $187.6 million. That option would avoid complications from the league’s Over-38 rule. Another possibility would be a one-plus-one deal, structured the same as the extension, giving him flexibility while keeping his earnings near the top tier.

Spotrac’s Keith Smith speculated that a compromise could be more realistic. He suggested Durant might land on a two-year, $100 million contract, paying him $50 million annually while giving him a player option for the summer of 2027. The structure would keep the focus on winning while still paying Durant at an elite level.

The Rockets acquired Durant in a massive trade that sent Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to the Suns.