Rockets’ Kevin Durant viewed as offseason’s biggest prize

The best offseason addition? ESPN’s Brian Windhorst says it’s a no-contest.

“I don’t think there’s much of a debate. Gotta be Kevin Durant in Houston,” Windhorst said on NBA Today. “The Suns feel like they got a good return, but the Rockets love this. They love giving up what they did to get Kevin Durant.”

The Rockets acquired Durant in a massive seven-team blockbuster after failing to get out of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. They sent Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to Phoenix as part of the deal.

Now, Durant will pair with Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet and others, the idea being to lift the Rockets to another level and put them right up there with the reigning champion Thunder. So yes, Houston is going all in.

That is why Windhorst said he ranked the Durant trade as the offseason’s most impactful move.

“He is under the last year of his contract — he can be a free agent next year,” Windhorst noted. “That is something to pay attention to. But one thing I know, he is going to get buckets for the Rockets, who can defend.

“And when you get into a close game and you’ve got a defense like they do, and a finisher like Kevin Durant, that is a recipe for winning a lot of games.”