The Houston Rockets have officially strengthened their lineup by acquiring Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns. This move comes as the franchise moves on from Jalen Green, who had been with the team for four years after being drafted second overall.

The acquisition of Durant was part of a complex multi-team trade that also involved sending Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to the Suns while bringing Clint Capela back to Houston from the Atlanta Hawks.

General Manager Rafael Stone expressed excitement over adding the future Hall of Famer to a team that recently achieved second place in the Western Conference, emphasizing Durant’s impressive track record and current performance.

“He’s Kevin Durant, he’s really good. He had a great year last year. He’s still a significant player for us, and we believe he can make a positive impact,” Stone stated.

Stone acknowledged the difficulties in letting go of Jalen Green, praising his talent and work ethic: “Jalen is remarkable and did everything we needed from him. It was a difficult decision to make.”

Despite facing criticism during the playoffs, Green had shown consistent improvement over his four seasons with Houston, finishing as the team’s top scorer last season.

In acquiring Durant, the Rockets aim to leverage his vast experience in pursuit of the franchise’s first title since the mid-90s.

“We believe he fits well with our team and can contribute significantly, and in turn, we will support him as he integrates into our system,” Stone concluded.