The Houston Rockets have undoubtedly taken a massive step forward this summer. Not only did they add Kevin Durant without giving up one of their premium young players, but they also bolstered their depth with veteran signings of Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela. After these savvy moves by GM Rafael Stone, the Rockets have one of the deepest and most talented teams in the league.
The Kevin Durant trade looks even better now that the free agency and trade craze is behind us. The latest report out of Milwaukee regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo makes the KD deal look like a home run transaction by the Rockets.
Kevin Durant Will Be the Best Player to Switch Teams This Offseason
There was some pushback for Houston's decision to trade for Durant based on the possibility of Giannis Antetokounmpo becoming available on the trade block. Media members and some fans were wondering if the Rockets' acquisition of Durant would take them out of the running in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. The argument that the Rockets should have kept their powder dry and saved their assets and cap space for the Greek Freak was a valid one.
It turns out, however, that Antetokounmpo is unlikely to be traded anytime soon. Bucks president Peter Feigin said on Sunday that things were great between the organization and their superstar, revealing that Antetokounmpo's future is in Milwaukee.
If the two-time MVP is not going anywhere, then Durant will almost certainly be the best player in the NBA to switch teams this summer. This means that the Rockets made the biggest improvement out of any team in the league. Considering that they were a 50+ win team already, Durant will take them to the next level: true championship contention.
The NBA always surprises its fans with unexpected trades and transactions. It's possible that Antetokounmpo, or even LeBron James, is moved elsewhere over the next few months. Until then, however, the Rockets are easily the biggest winners of the offseason.