The NBA offseason kicked off with a major trade sending Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. In exchange, the Suns received Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft, and five second-round picks. Durant's move to the Rockets fulfills his desire to play for a preferred destination, though the Golden State Warriors showed interest in him at last season's trade deadline.

Durant's three-year tenure with the Warriors was marked by significant success, including two championships alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. However, issues with head coach Steve Kerr reportedly influenced Durant's decision not to return to Golden State. Despite a reconciliation between the two, Kerr's offensive strategies were a source of contention for Durant during his last season in the Bay Area, suggesting a complicated legacy as he transitions to his new team.