TITLE: Rockets Close to Finalizing Extension With Kevin Durant Before Season Tip-Off
SLUG: rockets-close-to-finalizing-extension-with-kevin-durant
CONTENT:
The Houston Rockets believe they are on the verge of reaching a contract extension with star forward Kevin Durant prior to the regular-season opener on October 21, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who spoke Wednesday on “NBA Today.”
Durant, 37, arrived in Houston via a June trade with Phoenix and is entering the final season of his current $54.7 million deal. Without a new agreement, he would become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
During the Rockets’ media day, Durant said he expects to extend his stay but was uncertain about the timeline. Team officials are reportedly prioritizing a rookie-scale extension for forward Tari Eason before finalizing Durant’s terms, giving them a clearer picture of future salary commitments.
With the 2026-27 salary cap projected at $166 million, Durant is eligible for a two-year extension worth up to $119.1 million. That ceiling rises to $120.85 million on January 6, exactly six months after the trade was completed.
An August report indicated Houston is cautious about offering the full maximum, as the proposed extension would cover Durant’s age-38 and age-39 seasons. League chatter suggests a two-year deal in the $100 million range could be acceptable to both sides, slightly below his current annual salary.
Durant confirmed in a Tuesday interview with Kay Adams on FanDuel TV that he will make his Rockets preseason debut against Utah tonight. Asked what he hopes to gain from the appearance, Durant replied, “Just get some good run up and down the floor, just to get your wind right. It’s a different feel when you’re underneath the lights, and the whistle and the real game.”
Source: HoopsRumors
