The Kevin Durant era in Houston has started off… okay? The Rockets winning three of their first five games is not too shabby, but everyone must remember that this is the team that had the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference before adding Durant.
The former MVP is still among the NBA’s best players even at 37 years old. The fact still remains that the Rockets’ timeframe with him is very limited, so they must strike while the iron is hot by looking for a trade that improves their current standing.
What Trade Could Help Kevin Durant & the Rockets?
The Rockets were hit with a crushing blow before the season even started when Fred VanVleet suffered a season-ending torn ACL. VanVleet is a valuable piece of the Rockets’ scheme, but because he can’t play, Houston can’t afford to waste a year of Durant with VanVleet on the shelf.
To fix this problem, Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus proposed a three-way trade between the Rockets, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets, in which the following would happen.
Rockets get:
-Derrick White (from Celtics)
-Haywood Highsmith (from Nets)
-$5 million trade exception (Reed Sheppard)
Celtics get:
-Reed Sheppard (from Rockets)
-Jalen Wilson (from Nets)
-2029 first-rounder (via Rockets)
-$28.1 million trade exception (Derrick White)
Nets get:
-VanVleet (from Rockets)
-2027 first-rounder (via Rockets)
Pincus explained why White would appeal to the Rockets.
“White has championship experience, is comfortable at both guard spots, shoots well and plays defense,” Pincus wrote. “He’s expensive, but the Rockets stay under the first apron this year and can try to negotiate a deal with Tari Eason (restricted) this summer that keeps the franchise under the projected second apron.”
Latest @BleacherReport A Trade Idea That Could Realistically Save the Kevin Durant Era in Houston – I put together a theoretical to solve the FVV injury issue:https://t.co/Ktd9Hyv1BE
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) November 3, 2025
For what it’s worth, White would be perfect on the Rockets for the exact reasons Pincus outlines. He’s a combo guard who wouldn’t take shots away from their best players and would only make their defense more formidable. Add in his experience in the playoffs, and he would be a fantastic addition for the Durant-led Rockets.
However, why would the Celtics give up someone like him when he has proven both how good he is since they traded for him and how well he fits next to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown? Yeah, he’s paid a lot, but he is one of the league’s best complementary players.
There’s no doubt Durant would love to have a two-way guard like White on the Rockets, but if a trade like that were to happen, the Celtics would have every reason to demand the farm for him.