Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets Not Rushing Contract Extension

As Kevin Durant gears up to start his tenure with the Houston Rockets this upcoming season, many insiders speculate whether or not Houston will offer the 36-year-old forward a max extension despite the value he brings to their team.

Durant will be owed $54 million this year as the sharpshooter is at the tail end of his four-year, $194 million deal, making him an unrestricted free agent heading for the summer of 2026.

Aug 10, 2024; Paris, France; United States guard Kevin Durant (7) celebrates after defeating France in the men's basketball gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-Imagn Images | Rob Schumacher-Imagn Images

While most people would agree a player of Durant's caliber is certainly worth a max extension, the Rockets may be reluctant to offer that type of money with several of their core players needing to get paid in the next few seasons.

Houston has already taken the liberty of extending Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun, securing their backcourt for the future; however, Tari Eason and Amen Thompson are next in line if the Rockets plan on keeping this core four together for seasons to come.

Feb 23, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson (1) attempts to block a shot by Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

ESPN's Tim MacMahon recently jumped on the Hoop Collective podcast to discuss Durant's future contract with the Rockets, as he believes not only is Houston not pushing a max deal, but Durant may not be looking to push for one either.

"The Rockets aren't gonna go all-in, by all appearances and by what I've heard, they're not going all-in on an extension for Kevin Durant," stated MacMahon. "Now, that doesn't mean it won't happen, but there've been rumblings KD's not gonna push for the full max. I don't know that the Rockets are going to put anything on the table that's close to the max."

The Rockets are reportedly “not going all-in” on an extension for Kevin Durant this offseason, per @espn_macmahon

Houston is also unlikely to “put anything on the table that’s close to the max,” and Durant could play out the season on an expiring contract pic.twitter.com/3mlPIU7sbj
— SleeperRockets (@SleeperRockets) August 8, 2025

Luckily for the Rockets franchise, their general manager, Rafael Stone, has earned a reputation as the NBA's best negotiator because of how well structured and planned out his deals are, whether it be young players or savvy veterans.

Sam Quinn from CBS Sports had high praise for the offseason that Stone has put together in his NBA Front Office rankings, where the Rockets came in at No. 4.

"Rafael Stone is the NBA's best negotiator. He not only convinced Alperen Sengunto to re-sign at a number below the max, but also to take less than the maximum allowable 8% raises. Dorian Finney-Smith was the second-best 3-and-D wing on the free-agent market. How did Stone convince him to take only two guaranteed seasons? Steven Adams is on a descending-salary contract. Jabari Smith's extension includes an immediate descent, meaning his salary doesn't actually increase until the fourth season of the deal. Clint Capela passed up chances to start so he could be Houston's third center at only slightly above taxpayer mid-level money. All it took for him to convince Fred VanVleet to give up $20 million this season was a player option for next season. This is contract sorcery."

The Houston Rockets are NOT expected to offer Kevin Durant anything that is even close to a max contract extension, per @espn_macmahon

“They wouldn’t panic if they went into the season with Durant on the expiring contract he’s on.”

(h/t @GormanChristoph) pic.twitter.com/ZF3SCc7gx6
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) August 8, 2025

With Stone's track record, Durant's extension will be within a two to three year frame with a $40 million per year range.

It'll certainly be a cut compared to the 36-year-old's previous deals as a max player, but for a team that is built and prepared to contend for an NBA title for the next few seasons, perhaps the aging forward will take less money to potentially win a title with the Houston Rockets.