Durant remains among the game’s most lethal scorers and now anchors a Rockets squad that aims to pair elite offense with a renewed, defense-first identity. Amen Thompson and Sengun form a dynamic frontcourt duo with Adams protecting the rim, while Dorian Finney-Smith and Durant spacing the floor. The defense looks to trend top-five again, potentially unlocking Durant’s stamina and elevating Houston’s ceiling for fantasy impact across scorers, passers, and multipliers.

Durant’s path to a top-five all-time scoring finish stays in play, even at 36, as the Rockets lean into a zone-heavy, hard-nosed approach that lets Durant conserve energy on defense while still dominating on offense. The mix of Durant’s gravity, Sengun’s playmaking, and Thompson’s burst could make Houston a sleeper for fantasy managers who chase high-usage stars paired with a stifling defense.

Houston reshapes its core around Kevin Durant, adding Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela while filling 14 roster spots and keeping one more open. Beasley looms as a top bench shooter option, contingent on fit and cost, with internal competition from Cameron Matthews. The upheaval signals a championship bid and a fresh surrounding cast for Sengun and Amen Thompson, whose spacing and playmaking could maximize Durant’s impact.

Beasley’s 16.3 ppg and 41.6% 3-point mark last season, coupled with Durant’s gravity, could unlock efficient looks for Durant, Sengun and the rookie duo. Jalen Green’s exit and Brooks’ departure reshape the Rockets’ fantasy landscape, while the Pistons’ prior dealings frame Beasley’s market. Capela anchors the frontline, and Durant’s presence tors toward a high-upside, high-variance rotation next season.

Phoenix aims to redefine its identity this season with Dillon Brooks anchoring the wings. Fans want him at small forward, and his edge, defense, and 3-and-D toolkit could lift the Suns’ defensive intensity and unlock Booker and Ayton on offense. Brooks’ impact may be felt more in energy and possessions than box scores, shaping a tougher, more consistent baseline for Phoenix.

Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale provide versatile floor-spacers and defensive versatility. With Jordan Ott’s schemes, Phoenix could lean into multi-positional lineups that pressure opponents and shorten games in crunch time. For fantasy, Brooks offers steady steals and blocks with respectable scoring, while Allen and O’Neale bring depth in threes, assists, and defensive stats as Phoenix chases consistency.

Kevin Durant’s fit in Houston looms as the marquee storyline in a summer of splashy roster moves. Durant moved from Phoenix in a seven-team blockbuster that also shipped Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to Phoenix in exchange for a No. 10 pick (Khaman Maluach) and multiple second-rounders. Cam Whitmore’s return home to Washington via a three-team swap reinforces a Wizards rebuild, while Houston beefed up with Dorian Finney-Smith, Clint Capela, and Josh Okogie, and kept VanVleet, Adams, Tate, Holiday and Green as free agents. Ime Udoka’s defensive emphasis and the Rockets’ upgraded depth position Houston as one of the West’s top contenders behind OKC, Minnesota and Denver. The schedule moments teased—Durant vs. Whitmore in Houston, and Whitmore returning to D.C.—hint at a season full of intriguing matchups and fantasy wrinkles.

Whitmore’s Wizards debutation in Washington’s unfolding youth movement adds another layer to a league-wide reshuffle. The Wizards’ roster now includes Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Corey Kispert, AJ Johnson and Carlton Carrington, with Whitmore eager to win games as Washington eyes a brighter horizon. For fantasy, Houston’s new core and Durant’s high usage profile reignite the Rockets’ ceiling and complicate backcourt and wing rotations, while Washington’s pieces could surge if Coulibaly and Kispert find early rhythm. The summer of moves sets a clearer path for KD’s prime era to intersect with a rising West and a Wizards club chasing a respectful perch in 2025-26.

Phoenix adds Dillon Brooks to anchor the Suns' defense and inject an edge they’ve missed since Jae Crowder’s exit. Brooks isn’t asked to explode for 20 a night; his value comes from toughness, on-ball insistence, and accountability that can lift the whole unit. If he stays on the floor for 72+ games and hits 37–40% from three, Phoenix could rely on him as the third scoring option behind Booker and a second scorer, with room to climb if the offense scales up.

His shot versatility matters, but the true barometer is energy and discipline—the ability to guard multiple positions, set the defensive tone, and keep teammates in line when things slip. Durant and Booker will carry the heavy load, while Brooks channels hostility into team identity. The balance between more offense and sustained defense will decide whether he becomes a stabilizing backbone or a flashpoint, and how high his fantasy value can realistically climb.