The Rockets have the 10th pick in tonight's NBA Draft...sort of

The Rockets have the 10th pick in tonight's NBA Draft...sort of

The NBA draft is tonight. And while the Houston Rockets have the No. 10 overall pick, they won’t keep the player they use the pick on.

Here’s why.

As you’ve probably heard, the Rockets pulled off a trade with the Phoenix Suns over the weekend to bring 15-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant to Houston. In exchange, Houston is sending Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to Phoenix. Also included in the deal is Houston's 2025 first-round pick, which is the No. 10 overall selection in tonight’s draft.

So why is Houston still going to pick at No. 10?  It’s because the trade won’t be a done deal until the NBA year officially starts on July 6.

Here’s how it’s likely to play out: The Rockets will draft a player at No. 10, a player the Suns and Rockets have agreed upon. When the Durant deal is official on July 6, the Rockets will trade the rights to the player chosen at No. 10 to Phoenix.

How the Kevin Durant trade happened

The Rockets are acquiring Durant from the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster deal struck Sunday. The trade is still pending NBA approval.

As part of the deal, the Rockets are sending Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and six future picks, including the No. 10 selection in Wednesday’s opening round, to Phoenix.

The trade ended weeks of speculation about Durant’s next destination. Several teams, including Miami and Minnesota, were involved in discussions before Phoenix accepted Houston’s offer. ESPN first reported the trade.

Durant, a two-time NBA champion, averaged 26.6 points per game this season, his 17th in the league (not counting one year missed due to injury). For his career, he’s averaged 27.2 points and seven rebounds per game.

The move also marks a return to Texas for Durant, who played college basketball at the University of Texas, earning National Player of the Year honors before becoming the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

Once the trade becomes official on July 6, Houston will become Durant’s fifth NBA franchise, following stints with the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Phoenix Suns.

Durant’s tenure in Phoenix lasted 2½ seasons, a stretch marked by high expectations but limited postseason success, despite playing alongside stars Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

Now, Houston, which finished No. 2 in the Western Conference this season, adds one of the NBA’s most accomplished scorers to a young roster aiming for a deeper playoff run next year.