Kevin Durant's Rockets Contract Offer Projected by NBA Execs Ahead of 2025-26 Season

Kevin Durant is "increasingly expected" to receive an extension offer from the Houston Rockets worth less than his two-year, $120 million maximum contract, NBA insider Marc Stein reported Saturday.

According to Stein, multiple cap experts said the Rockets should offer Durant at least $40 million less than that max total.

"Two team officials who know the CBA like the back of their hand told me this week that they would be urging Houston, were they working in the Rockets' front office, to cap any offer at $80 million over two years," Stein wrote.

How much the Rockets can off will ultimately hinge on how much the team pays to keep its young stars in Houston, Stein noted.

The Rockets are actively working on negotiations for Tari Eason, who needs an extension by Monday if the team doesn't want him to hit restricted free agency next spring. ESPN's Bobby Marks projected Eason's value at a four-year, $80 million contract.

Houston will also need to prepare for when Amen Thompson becomes eligible for an extension next season. According to Stein, the consensus among NBA cap experts is that Thompson is expected to receive a max extension.

Thompson is still playing this season on a rookie scale contract, but an extension could replace his 2026-27 club option and potentially overlap with Durant's new deal.

The question will be whether Durant is willing to take a pay cut in order to help the Rockets stay competitive within salary cap and luxury tax restrictions.

Durant said in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix that his goal had been to join a title contender that didn't need to give up too many key pieces to acquire him. If applying that same principle to his extension, Durant could decide to leave salary on the table in the hopes of improving his chances of a title in Houston.