Leaking Durant’s preferred destinations gives him a level of leverage over the Suns, who have been looking for the best deal.

One popular name that has emerged as a trade candidate this offseason is the Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant.

The Heat holds Durant in high regard but doesn’t want to offer all of its trade assets — meaning its top young players and all its available draft inventory — because he’s entering his late 30s.

Given that context, it's hard to call the Rockets '24/25 season anything but a huge success for the franchise. Houston won 52 games, its highest single-season total since the James Harden years, and held the No. 2 seed in a competitive Western Conference for much of the season, including from March 19 onward.

Fred VanVleet put together a strong season in the 2024‑25 campaign for the Houston Rockets, averaging 14.6 points, 5.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game across 60 appearances.

Houston was considerably better when Adams was on the floor not just during the regular season but also in their series with the Warriors.