Rockets GM Explains Kevin Durant Trade, Says 'We're Not a Developmental Team Anymore'

Even as the Houston Rockets were playing their way to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference last season, it wasn't difficult to see them as a young team that was maybe a year or two away from serious championship contention.

That is no longer the case after they traded for Kevin Durant this offseason.

"I think we're not a developmental team anymore," general manager Rafael Stone told reporters Monday when talking about the decision to acquire the future Hall of Famer. "That shift probably happened a year or two ago, and I think the goal for this group is to win basketball games and be as competitive as we can be."

While there are still young players in place with Alperen Şengün, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard, Durant gives them a veteran leader who can take over games in crunch times as one of the best scorers in league history.

That is exactly what they were missing last season as they lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.

It meant sacrificing Jalen Green in the trade, which Stone said was "what the deal requires" even while praising the No. 2 overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft's "combination of talent and work ethic."

But it's not every day a team gets the opportunity to land someone like Durant.

"He's Kevin Durant," Stone said. "He's really good. He's super efficient. He had a great year last year. He's obviously not 30 anymore, but he really hasn't fallen off."

The 36-year-old has two championships, two NBA Finals MVPs, a league MVP, a Rookie of the Year, four scoring titles, 11 All-NBA nods and 15 All-Star Game selections on his sparkling resume. 

He still averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game last season for the Phoenix Suns and didn't look like someone who would be retiring any time soon.

The Rockets are surely hoping that is the case as they set their sights on a championship run.