Kevin Durant traded to Houston Rockets as part of blockbuster, first-ever 7-team NBA trade

In a blockbuster for the ages, a massive seven-team trade, now officially the largest deal in NBA history in terms of teams involved, has been finalized. The deal sees Kevin Durant and Clint Capela land in Houston, reshaping the Rockets' roster in dramatic fashion.

The trade, which ropes in the Rockets, Suns, Hawks, Nets, Warriors, Lakers, and Timberwolves, is a seismic shake-up that will send shockwaves across the league. Naturally, Durant's move to Houston is the crown jewel of the deal, instantly vaulting the Rockets into serious contention.

With Durant joining forces with rising stars Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and veteran floor general Fred VanVleet, the Rockets suddenly boast a potent mix of experience, youth, and depth. Simply put, Houston just went from rebuilding to reloading.

Here's how the blockbuster trade ultimately unfolds:

• Houston Rockets gets: Kevin Durant, Clint Capela
• Phoenix Suns gets: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, rights to Khaman Maluach (No. 10 draft pick), Rasheer Fleming, Koby Brea, Daeqwon Plowden, one second-round pick
• Golden State gets: Alex Toohey, Jahmai Mashack
• LA Lakers get: Adou Thiero
• Brooklyn Nets gets: two second-round picks
• Atlanta Hawks gets: David Roddy, a second-round pick, cash
• Minnesota Timberwolves gets: Rocco Zikarsky, two second-round picks, cash

With Kevin Durant now headlining a revamped Houston lineup, the Rockets are poised to rise into the Western Conference elite, rubbing shoulders with the Thunder and Nuggets. Last season's playoff shortcomings exposed their lack of a true go-to scorer—Durant instantly patches that hole, giving the team the offensive alpha it sorely missed.

While there were whispers about Dorian Finney-Smith being involved via sign-and-trade with the Lakers, that won't be the case. Since Clint Capela is already arriving in a sign-and-trade deal, Houston retains the flexibility to sign Finney-Smith outright using their mid-level exception. Simply put, why throw assets LA's way when they don't need to?

Over in Phoenix, the return of Jalen Green is the headline addition from this mammoth deal. But it raises eyebrows—he now joins a crowded backcourt with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Unless a buyout or waive-and-stretch happens, particularly for Beal, this guard-heavy trio could cause more questions than answers for the Suns.

In a summer already jam-packed with jaw-dropping moves, this record-breaking seven-team swap is the crown jewel of the madness. Just when you thought the offseason couldn't get any crazier, the league delivers a trade earthquake.

This isn't about teams getting flashy: it's the new CBA twisting everyone's arm. Moving a max deal like Durant's in today's NBA isn't just tough, it's practically impossible without pulling in a cast of supporting franchises. Thanks to the luxury tax and apron restrictions, gone are the days of simple two-team deals for superstar contracts.

Clint Capela got inked by Houston and instantly rerouted in a sign-and-trade move, while franchises like Brooklyn, Golden State, Atlanta, the Lakers, and Minnesota essentially stepped in to play financial middlemen, helping to make the numbers balance out.

The wildest part? This might just be the start. With the new cap mechanics this tight, we could be entering an era where five-to-seven-team trades are the new normal just to get the math to line up.

Phoenix had to gut nearly half its rotation just to unload Durant's hefty deal, while Houston landed its marquee star. As for the other squads involved? They're playing the long con, stockpiling draft picks and minor assets in exchange for some cap gymnastics.

Welcome to the NBA's brave new world, where mega-trades resemble World War peace treaties. Seven teams, countless moving parts, and all for KD to land on—checks notes—his fourth team since 2019. The modern NBA offseason? It's nothing short of bonkers.