Grades and reaction: Rockets come out much better than Suns in Kevin Durant trade

The Phoenix Suns traded 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets on Sunday after a lengthy process that saw several teams with reported interest in Durant.

The Suns received Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and five second-rounders in exchange for Durant.

It was a fraction from what the Suns originally traded for Durant in 2023, in which Phoenix traded Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four unprotected future first-round picks, plus a first-round pick swap to the Brooklyn Nets.

While the Rockets are gaining praise for acquiring Durant, the Suns are receiving mixed reactions for their return in the trade.

Here’s how analysts around the league graded how the Suns and Rockets fared in the Durant trade:

Kevin Durant trade grades

ESPN

Suns: B

Rockets: A

The worst-case scenario for Phoenix was trading Durant for veterans who fit better alongside Beal and Booker in a misguided attempt to win now. Again, let’s not rule out that happening down the line, but for now the Suns got what could be the best 2025 draft pick to change hands and the 23-year-old Green.

The Athletic’s Zach Harper

Suns: D

Rockets: A+

 The new, inexperienced Suns front office, with Brian Gregory as the new general manager, got worked in this deal. Even with the 10th pick, originally their own, coming to them, they barely got any of this, and I’m not sure how much Brooks or Green even help with the makeup of this team. Green doesn’t really fit into a team with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal on it. The 23-year-old is more of a long-term play than Beal, who has a couple years left on his deal, but we know that Beal has been blocking trades left and right with his no-trade clause.

CBS Sports’ Brad Botkin

Suns: C

Rockets: A

It’s true, the Suns lacked leverage here. Everyone knew they had to trade Durant and everyone knew the places Durant wanted to go. Houston was one of them, so the Rockets, knowing Durant will likely willing to sign up for more than just next year, were willing to part with a pretty good package for the Suns under the circumstances. They’re still eating a buffet portion of crow after their all-in move on Durant went bust, but they didn’t come up totally empty.

USA Today’s Prince J. Grimes

Suns: C-

Rockets: A-

The Suns were seemingly handcuffed by Durant’s leverage to choose his destination, limiting them to about five teams they could negotiate with, so you have to assume this was the best package they could get. Considering the circumstances, it’s not awful. The No. 10 pick in this year’s draft should help them land a young player with real upside to help continue building out a team around Devin Booker, and Jalen Green still has a ton of upside as a career 20-point scorer who’s only 23 years old.

Suns fans react to Kevin Durant trade

While the Suns got mixed reactions from analysts, fans seemed much more negative in the return the Suns got for Durant.

Wow… 🤢. Guess the Suns try to trade Jalen green now? https://t.co/zatQr8pNJ4

— 🌵 Mr. Az (@MrAzSports) June 22, 2025

So the Suns were the worst team in the league for Book’s first 5 years, get a true PG sliding Book to SG w: CP3 go to the finals and 3 straight playoffs, then lose CP3 and go back to Point Book? Double downing w/ Beal now Green? Just so strange https://t.co/BuywZL9UOv

— Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) June 22, 2025

So the Suns turned:
– Cam
– Mikal
– Jae
– 5 FRP’s

into:
– Green
– Brooks
– 1 FRP and 5 seconds

Generational disasterclass, the KD trade ruined our franchise

— Thomas 🏀⚾️ (@ThomasBuckets78) June 22, 2025

I have no faith that current Phoenix Suns management can build a good NBA team.

— Scott Howard (@ScottHoward42) June 22, 2025

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