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Rockets went after Jaylen Brown before trading for Kevin Durant

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The possibility of Phoenix expanding the Durant trade remains since the deal can’t become official until July 6th, HoopsHype has learned. Durant reunites with Rockets coach Ime Udoka, whom he spent time with on the Brooklyn Nets. Udoka was the head coach of the Boston Celtics and was in favor of the organization trying to acquire Durant when the organization dangled a package centered around Jaylen Brown, league sources told HoopsHype. Now, while finalizing his contract extension with the Rockets, Udoka encouraged Houston to trade for Durant, sources said. This time, Udoka got his man.
Source: HoopsHype

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Ramona Shelburne @ramonashelburne
Sam Presti built and then rebuilt a contender around a superstar trio. The lessons he learned the with Durant-Westbrook and Harden helped “inform the music” on this second riff with SGA, Chet and JDub —a team that grew together, not apart. espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 2:12 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Free episode: The Oklahoma City Thunder are the 2025 NBA Champions; KD is Traded to the Rockets with @DannyLeroux
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dun…
open.spotify.com/episode/3mTB0S… pic.x.com/SNg7UZxwJm – 1:49 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“Had that man showed up in the postseason against the Golden State Warriors and played better, this wouldn’t have happened. Jalen Green showed you he ain’t ready.” Stephen A. Smith.
Suns acquired Green in Kevin Durant trade.
“There are a lot of people in Houston and in the NBA pic.x.com/vBtH4aIMc7 – 1:39 PM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Column on Kevin Durant’s ~legacy~ in Phoenix: arizonasports.com/nba/phoenix-su… – 1:27 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
We are [checks notes] back.
Live w/@adaniels33 on @SiriusXMNBA Channel 86 for the next 3 hours.
📞 855-NBA-JUMP
📡 sxm.app.link/WorldWideWobNBA
– OKC champs, big favorites to repeat
– IND w/o Hali
– Eastern Conference
– Durant
– Achilles epidemic
3 hours wont be enough. Join us! pic.x.com/kniMQk6HWK – 1:00 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Visited Suns for pre-draft workouts: Danny Wolf, Johni Broome, Chaz Lanier, Jaxson Robinson, Ryan Nembhard, Grant Nelson, Reyne Smith, Caleb Grill, Izan Almansa.
Jonathan Givony: Suns look to have “lottery guys” in today, tomorrow. Have 10th pick after Kevin Durant trade. #Suns pic.x.com/8FMUL57jHT – 1:00 PM

Roland Lazenby @lazenby
“If you can’t get LeBron [James], I think KD is the best” – Kevin Garnett wanted Kevin Durant in New York before Rockets made a move basketballnetwork.net/latest-news/ke… – 12:59 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
NEW episode of Pickaxe and Roll!
– OKC wins the championship, which is what this is all for
– Kevin Durant traded to Houston on the same day
– Dario Saric opts into Player Option for Nuggets
youtu.be/Z6T7oSsuYKU pic.x.com/6YVu55toL5 – 12:01 PM

Justin Verrier @JustinVerrier
All new, Game 7 edition of Group Chat with @RobMahoney and @BigWos, where the Thunder are your 2025 NBA champions. Haliburton’s gut-wrenching injury, OKC’s dynasty potential – plus, the KD trade and much more.
Thanks for listening this season 🫶
open.spotify.com/episode/65iulP… – 11:50 AM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“First of all, I’m ecstatic for Ime Udoka. He wanted this to happen. That’s why this happened because I can tell you (Rockets team owner) Tilman Fertitta and others had their reservations, but Ime did not.”
Stephen A. Smith on Rockets coach wanting Kevin Durant. #Suns #Rockets pic.x.com/qIjVTckCdu – 11:43 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
First-round talent interested in results of Kevin Durant trade, Phoenix Suns draft (w/video) #Suns #NBADraft azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral pic.x.com/myE5z0K2tD – 11:34 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“I love and revere this man. Pat Riley, but at the same time, how many players are you missing out on getting to South Beach?
Stephen A. Smith on Miami Heat not landing Kevin Durant.
Suns traded Durant to Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 10th pick in 2025 draft and five pic.x.com/KXxz5H1ov9 – 11:30 AM

Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
NEW: As Heat moves forward after Kevin Durant gets traded elsewhere, a busy and important part of this offseason begins today for the Heat miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… A rundown of what the Heat is able to begin doing today – 11:17 AM
Yossi Gozlan @YossiGozlan
I’ll be discussing the Kevin Durant trade, Thunder and Pacers outlook, and the start of the offseason with @SamQuinnCBS shortly on a live Third Apron podcast.
Join us at 11:30 AM ET/8:30 AM PT!
Chat: youtube.com/live/o2REALedj…
x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 11:10 AM
Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
OKC Wins Chip | Hali Injury | KD Trade| Lakers Offseason Begins | Guest: Eric Pincus x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 11:00 AM
Adam Aaronson @SixersAdam
New: Kicking off a massive week with 5 Sixers thoughts…
• OKC wins NBA Finals in Game 7
• Tyrese Haliburton goes down… who wants to win the Eastern Conference next year?
• More T.J. McConnell absurdity
• Kevin Durant trade thoughts
• more!
phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-nb… – 10:24 AM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
What to make of Suns’ Kevin Durant trade, the return they got…and what comes next – bit.ly/43XbjAg via @PHNX_Suns – 10:02 AM
Bill Reiter @sportsreiter
The radio show is live from 10-noon ET on the @InfSportsNet: Thunder win it all, Halliburton heartbreak, KD to Rockets, @JaredSGreenberg, Buy Or Sell, @Ryan_Hickey3 popped the question, defenses do win championships, more.
LISTEN:
ReiterThanYou.com
@Audacy
@SIRIUSXM 375 – 9:56 AM
Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
New pod with @tomhaberstroh: the weirdest Finals Game 7 ever, OKC’s historic season + dynasty potential, and what’s next for the Haliburton-less Pacers.
Plus we talk KD + draft.
APPLE: tinyurl.com/yc7esv9n
SPOTIFY: tinyurl.com/4cub92v8
YOUTUBE: youtube.com/live/Xfgxy3Ra-…
🏀 pic.x.com/hHQ4Ahegpb – 9:23 AM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
New Dunc’d On is out and FREE. @DannyLeroux and I break down the epic journey of this Thunder team while mourning the Tyrese Haliburton injury and what might have been.
Then, a look at the Kevin Durant trade from every possible angle. Search “Dunc’d On” in your podcast player. pic.x.com/0tED2eIxdJ – 1:18 AM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
2024 USA gold medal mens 🏀 in 2025
Embiid: knee
Booker: Suns 11th place
Durant: ankle, traded
Davis: traded, adductor
Adebayo: swept
James: MCL
Curry: hamstring
Tatum: Achilles
White: lost East semis
Holiday: ditto
Edwards: lost WCF in 5 2nd straight year
Haliburton: Achilles pic.x.com/zMSY9vRtsb – 12:57 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
On today’s Kevin Durant trade, how it got to this point, some details on a few offers Phoenix got, how the Suns view Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, and what’s coming next in the draft and the rest of the offseason: bit.ly/43XbjAg – 12:26 AM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Sam Presti built 2 contenders from the ground floor in the NBA’s smallest market.
The first era went to 4 West Finals and 1 Finals but had 3 contending years taken away due to injury.
Then Kevin Durant left in his prime and OKC got 0 assets in return.
That loss would devastate – 12:23 AM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Forget the KD and Giannis sweepstakes.
How many 1st round picks would a team have to give up for TJ McConnell? – 10:20 PM
Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
Curious to @KDTrey5 thoughts on a lot of things basketball today. One NBA team doctor told me: “Very reminiscent of KD in Toronto Finals 2019. Same replay. You see the contraction/pop. Achilles. “ – 8:53 PM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
NEW from @Anthony_Chiang and me: Details about what the Heat was willing to offer — and not offer — to Phoenix for Kevin Durant
miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia…
Inside the trade discussions that ended with Durant being sent to Houston – 8:01 PM
Bryan Kalbrosky @BryanKalbrosky
Some intel about the Suns, who now own the No. 10 overall pick, after the Kevin Durant trade:
Cedric Coward worked out with Phoenix during the pre-draft process.
French PG Nolan Traroré also headlined a PHX workout earlier today.
My updated mock draft:
ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/n… – 7:42 PM
Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“It would be a pretty long list until you reached Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green”
@WindhorstESPN believes that the Rockets made out well in their trade for 2x NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant.
@Termineradio | @Jumpshot8 pic.x.com/znRVSH0Ivn – 7:35 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
The Suns were never going to win a Kevin Durant trade, but there were definitely some mixed feelings about the return. Here’s an inside look at how it went down, how Phoenix views Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, and what might be coming next: bit.ly/43XbjAg – 7:17 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
“The Rockets, at the end of the day, made the best offer.”
@ShamsCharania takes us behind the Kevin Durant trade ✍ pic.x.com/lEI3C36Frs – 6:45 PM

Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
The Hoop Collective’s emergency pod on the Kevin Durant deal @WindhorstESPN @TimBontemps youtu.be/7eXDoAPTJVM?si… – 6:24 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Winners, Losers from the Kevin Durant trade to the Houston Rockets
The biggest winner: Durant himself.
nbcsports.com/nba/news/winne… – 6:14 PM
Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
I wrote about the latest Kevin Durant trade, which is a home run for the Houston Rockets: theringer.com/2025/06/22/nba… – 6:00 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
KD so sharp. Was sitting up there giving a harmless interview just waiting for everyone’s phone screens to light up with push notifications. Festival presenting sponsors/investors get millions of $ in promotion as attendees scramble to post vids for free. Everything is wrestling. pic.x.com/krTmQ0UiVM – 5:58 PM

Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
Kevin Durant trade breakdown
youtu.be/vTcn9YYWFZs?si… via @YouTube – 5:53 PM
Sam Amick @sam_amick
Why the Rockets changed course on Kevin Durant, and fast-tracked their timeline to go all-in on the now, at @TheAthletic, with @KellyIko
nytimes.com/athletic/64441… – 5:45 PM
Kelly Iko @KellyIko
By the time the ink had dried on Ime Udoka’s extension, two things were certain — the Rockets were committed for the long haul and Kevin Durant was within reach.
On a two-footed jump into title contention. Reporting w/ @sam_amick for @TheAthletic
nytimes.com/athletic/64441… – 5:42 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Under which circumstances would Kevin Durant’s odds at a third title been maximized:
Back to Golden State at the deadline.
OR
Going to Houston now. – 5:25 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Remember when Suns thought they were getting Dillon Brooks from Memphis in three-team deal in 2018-19?
Grizzlies were trying to move MarShon Brooks. Backed out.
Interim GM James Jones: “Miscommunication.”
Suns now has Dillon Brooks in Kevin Durant trade. Crazy. #Suns #Rockets pic.x.com/HK1mZTZg3X – 5:21 PM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
New for ⁦@YahooSports⁩: the Rockets were the most logical destination for Kevin Durant, who shockingly didn’t go for a haul.
Leave it to KD to steal Oklahoma City’s (possible) thunder sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/ke… – 4:55 PM

More on this storyline

Phoenix has also gauged the trade market on swingmen Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen, league sources told HoopsHype. The Timberwolves were concerned about trading for Durant when Minnesota wasn’t on his preferred list of destinations. In addition, the Suns desired Rudy Gobert in trade talks, and losing their French defensive anchor to pair Julius Randle and Kevin Durant in the frontcourt together wasn’t seen as an ideal pairing defensively, HoopsHype has learned. -via HoopsHype / June 23, 2025
There is a strong chance this trade will be expanded to include more teams and players since we have two weeks until it can become official. But if it isn’t, the trade as structured works with the two teams. And that is fascinating because both teams have to do 100 percent matches since they project to be above the first apron in 2025-26. Teams above the first apron cannot take back more salaries than they’re receiving in a trade. -via Third Apron / June 23, 2025
Pat McAfee: “I’m sure teams are throwing crazy offers for guys like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.. It will take a pretty insurmountable package to get those guys out of Boston” ~ @ShamsCharania #PMSLive -via Twitter / June 19, 2025
Shams Charania: “Are teams making big offers and calling about Jaylen Brown and Derrick White? One hundred percent. The Celtics prefer not to trade them from my understanding. But listen, if they get a big offer, they have to look at everything. Between now and the draft and free agency, they’re going to evaluate what makes sense from a value perspective. And that’s where they’re going to move. Pat McAfee: Everybody but Tatum. Shams Charania: Essentially. -via YouTube / June 12, 2025
Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown today underwent a successful right knee arthroscopic debridement procedure. He is expected to participate in training camp without limitation. -via Twitter @celtics / June 11, 2025