Though a verbal agreement is in place, the Houston-Phoenix trade for Kevin Durant won’t be official until July. For the deal to work under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the Rockets will need Green to count at $33.3 million (his 2025-26 rate, in the first year of a contract extension) in outgoing salary.
With that in mind, the Rockets and Suns have two weeks to potentially expand the trade, if it serves either team’s interests.
The Athletic’s John Hollinger, formerly a front office executive for an NBA team, explains:
Salary cap nerds will note that this trade seems destined to get larger — possibly much larger. The Suns have ample time to negotiate to send either Green, Brooks or any of the draft picks to third parties; some potential shenanigans could yield a decent-sized trade exception. Meanwhile, the Rockets can find ways to stuff guys with contract options like Jock Landale or Aaron Holiday in the deal to take back a player from a third team.
The decision deadline for 2025-26 team options is June 29, so Rockets general manager Rafael Stone can take the next few days to explore options involving Landale or Holiday before any decision has to be made.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Report: Rockets-Suns trade for Kevin Durant could expand by July
Reporting by Ben DuBose, Rockets Wire / Rockets Wire
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