The Houston Rockets head into the 2026-27 NBA season facing growing questions about their future with Kevin Durant after another early playoff exit.
The Rockets acquired Durant from the Phoenix Suns in July 2025. Last season marked their first full campaign together.
Houston finished 52-30, matching its previous year’s record. The team earned the Western Conference’s No. 4 seed. The Rockets then lost to the No. 5 Los Angeles Lakers in six games.
The result left the franchise searching for answers heading into year two of the Durant era.
Durant appeared committed last October when he agreed to a two-year, $90 million extension. The deal included a discount that gave general manager Rafael Stone extra room to build the roster.
That commitment now looks less certain. A panel of ESPN NBA insiders recently listed Durant as the third-most likely star to request a trade this season.
The ranking comes after Giannis Antetokounmpo moved to the Miami Heat during the summer. That departure has increased speculation about other veteran stars seeking new situations.
Durant, 37, holds a player option for the 2027-28 season. The clause gives him significant leverage if Houston fails to take a clear step forward.
The Rockets have chosen to stand pat this offseason. They are keeping head coach Ime Udoka and his staff in place.
Most of the core roster also returns. Houston added two-way guard Marcus Smart and veteran wing Bogdan Bogdanovic to strengthen the bench.
Questions remain about how those pieces will fit. The second unit of Smart, Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, Bogdanovic and Steven Adams shows promise, but managing minutes could prove difficult.
Center Alperen Sengun continues to post strong advanced metrics. His defensive limitations, however, have shown up in the playoffs and remain a concern.
Fourth-year guard Amen Thompson must improve offensively. The 2023 lottery pick’s growth on that end of the floor will help determine how high Houston can climb.
Pressure is rising because of Durant’s upcoming option. If the Rockets underperform again, the 6-foot-11 forward could look elsewhere.
Houston has limited ways to upgrade the roster from the outside. The team needs internal improvement from Thompson and Sheppard, plus a strong return from Fred VanVleet.
Matching or exceeding last season’s 52 wins would put the Rockets in position to win a playoff series. That kind of progress would likely satisfy Durant for now.
A second-round exit still appears the most realistic ceiling. Even so, a series victory could keep the current partnership intact for another year.
