Durant joins the finale, and the Rockets finally become the joint station of the "Thunder Three Young Masters"

On June 23, the NBA ushered in another shocking trade during the offseason! According to an exclusive report by authoritative journalist Shams Charania, the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets reached a major agreement: superstar Kevin Durant officially joined the Rockets, while the Suns won the potential new star Jaylen Green in the Rockets, the defensive champion Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the first round of 2025 and as many as five second-round draft picks. The dust of this deal was settled, and unexpectedly wrote a wonderful closed loop of NBA history - the "Thunder Three Young Masters" in Oklahoma City, which was once a terrifying league, had put on the Houston Rockets' jersey at different stages of her career.

The Rockets became the intersection of the three young masters

The time was turned back to the fall of 2012, when James Harden, who had just shown his strength, had a disagreement with the Thunder over the issue of renewal. The Rockets made decisive moves, sending out Kevin Martin, young player Jerome Lamb, plus a first-round pick from the Raptors and the Mavericks (now Mavericks) in 2013 and a second-round pick from the Hornets (now Pelicans), successfully bringing Harden to Houston. This transaction became the starting point for Harden to transform into a top star in the league, and also laid the foundation for the Rockets' "magic ball theory" for many years since then.

Seven years later, the Rockets once again signed from the Thunder. In the 2019 offseason, in order to find a strong partner for Harden, the Rockets sent Chris Paul, two first-round picks in 2024 and 2026, as well as draft swap rights in 2021 and 2025, attracting Russell Westbrook. Although the Rockets career of the "Vuitton Group" failed to reach its peak, this experience is undoubtedly a strong mark in Westbrook's career.

Durant joins and starts a new chapter in the Rockets

Now, with Durant airborne Houston, the Rockets puzzle of the "Thunder Three Young Master" is finally complete. The addition of this historical scorer, four-time scoring champion and former MVP undoubtedly injects strong combat power and immeasurable experience wealth into the Rockets, who are in the rising period of reconstruction. The Rockets management made a decisive move this time, not only sending away Jaylen Green, who is talented but still needs polishing, but also taking advantage of the defensive core Dillon Brooks and valuable draft assets in the future.

For the Suns, it was pragmatic to decisively turn to reconstruction after failing to achieve a championship breakthrough in the Durant era. The acquisition of young scorer Green, tough wing Brooks, plus a high-ranking lottery (2025 No. 10 pick) and rich second-round pick resources have reserved a diversified bargaining chip for Phoenix's future.

Rockets fans have mixed feelings

When Durant wears the Rockets jersey appears in the news, many old Rockets fans will feel complicated. From Harden's MVP era, to Westbrook's passionate charge, to Durant's calm end now - Houston inadvertently passed the baton of the "Thunder Three Young Masters", becoming a unique stop connecting the career of this legendary trio. In the Toyota Center in the new season, when Durant set foot on this field that has witnessed Harden's glory and Westbrook's struggle, a basketball story about talent, time and destiny will open a new chapter. The Rockets' future has suddenly added infinite room for imagination due to the arrival of this superstar.