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Kevin Durant reacts during the Houston Rockets’ Game 2 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers as pressure mounts ahead of Game 3.

The Golden State Warriors unsuccessfully pursued a Kevin Durant reunion before the 2025 trade deadline. They could again target Durant this summer, amid reports that the Houston Rockets might trade the 16-time All-Star.

According to The Ringer’s Michael Pina, the Rockets — on the verge of being eliminated from the playoffs — have made it clear to rival teams that “nothing is off the table” this offseason and that they could completely overhaul their roster.

The report added that Durant, who has two years and $90M left on his deal, could be used by the Rockets as a “stepping stone” to begin a total roster reset.

“The Rockets thought that KD was their missing piece, and instead, there’s a chance they’ll turn him into a stepping stone this summer,” Pina wrote.

“It turns out that your best player shouldn’t also be a mercenary.

“But despite that, the Heat, Timberwolves, Blazers, Mavericks, Pistons, Knicks, Raptors, Hawks, Magic, Lakers, Nuggets, Hornets, Bulls, Wizards, Warriors, Pacers, Jazz, Sixers, Celtics, Cavaliers, Bucks, and Clippers would all have varying degrees of interest—pending how the rest of these playoffs go.”

Warriors Trade Target: Kevin Durant

Durant reportedly vetoed a trade to the Warriors in Feb. 2025 when he was still a member of the Phoenix Suns. The two-time NBA champion hinted in several subsequent interviews that he was not keen on returning to the Bay Area.

“It didn’t make sense to me,” Durant told “The Draymond Green Show” last year.

Durant, though, pushed back on the theory that he didn’t want to play with Green.

“You don’t want to play with Draymond no more. You don’t want to go back (to Golden State),” Durant said, mimicking his detractors. “I’m like, ‘Yeah that s— is annoying, and I don’t like it, but I can play under anything.’”

Should Warriors Pursue Kevin Durant?

When the Suns once again shopped Durant in the summer of 2025, the Warriors were reportedly not in the mix, as they had already used resources in acquiring Jimmy Butler at the 2025 trade deadline. According to multiple reports, Durant preferred a move to the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets or the San Antonio Spurs, while the Minnesota Timberwolves made an aggressive run for him but did not pique his interest.

The Warriors are expected to aggressively pursue big names this summer, hoping to land a new co-star to pair with Stephen Curry.

“I expect them again to go all-in for Giannis [Antetokounmpo]. If that fails, I expect them again to call on Kawhi Leonard. If that fails, or maybe if it doesn’t, I expect them to try to get LeBron James,” insider Zach Lowe reported recently.

The Warriors pursued both Antetokounmpo and Leonard at this year’s trade deadline.