Rockets May Offer Durant Far Less Than Max in Extension Talks
Kevin Durant’s arrival in Houston was seen as a perfect match. The Rockets had him high on their list, and Houston was one of the few teams on Durant’s preferred trade destinations. His fit was obvious—an elite half-court scorer who could give the Rockets a dangerous offensive weapon in big moments. But while the on-court part seems seamless, the contract extension situation is where things get tricky.
Durant is heading into the final year of his current deal, worth $57.4 million. Under the NBA’s “over-38” rule, the most Houston can offer is a two-year, $122.1 million extension. That’s huge money, but from the start there was talk Durant might accept something less than the max. Now, it’s being reported that the discount could be far more significant than expected.
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According to Tim MacMahon and Brian Windhorst on ESPN’s Hoop Collective podcast, Houston isn’t pushing to offer anything close to that full max number. MacMahon noted that Durant isn’t expected to demand it either, and the Rockets wouldn’t be panicked about starting the season with Durant on an expiring contract. Windhorst added that general manager Rafael Stone has a track record of offering large deals that are short-term, structured to protect the team’s flexibility.
Some insiders suggest Durant could end up around the $100 million mark for two years—still roughly $50 million per season but well below the max. And even that figure might be optimistic. The decision will come down to what Durant values more: maximizing salary or taking less to help the Rockets stay competitive under the salary cap.
It’s worth remembering Houston just made a bold move to land him, sending Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and a first-round pick to Phoenix. They also added veterans like Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela, pushing their championship odds into the NBA’s top five. It would be stunning for them to make that trade only to let Durant walk in free agency next summer.
Still, the Rockets have been disciplined under the new collective bargaining agreement. They prefer short, team-friendly deals even for stars, avoiding long-term risks—especially with a 36-year-old player. Whether $100 million over two years is “close enough” to the max for Durant, or whether Houston’s offer lands even lower, is something that will likely unfold over the coming weeks.
Training camps open in just over a month, and historically, many extensions get finalized right around that time. Until then, all eyes will be on whether Houston and Durant find middle ground—or whether the season starts with one of the league’s biggest stars playing out the final year of his deal without a new contract in place.
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