Durant is currently negotiating with the Rockets! No $120 million offer yet, multiple factors hindering new contract agreement

On October 18 Beijing time, Kevin Durant is about to begin his inaugural season with the Rockets, and this is also the last year of his existing contract. However, he appears unable to obtain a max salary extension at this time.ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that the situation is “very clear” — the Rockets have not presented Durant with the 2-year $120 million extension he qualifies for; if the team intended to do so, the deal “should have been settled by now.”

Currently, several factors may be preventing the new contract from being finalized.

As of now, the Rockets’ guaranteed salary for the 2026-27 season stands at only $92.7 million. However, this figure could rise soon because Tari Eason is negotiating a rookie extension, which ESPN’s Bobby Marks predicts could be a four-year deal worth around $80 million in total.

Amen Thompson won’t be eligible for an extension until next summer, but since VanVleet is likely to miss the entire season due to an ACL tear, Thompson is expected to serve as the team’s primary playmaker; if he excels in this role, his value could increase significantly.

Regarding VanVleet’s injury, his $25 million player option for the 2026-27 season is now more likely to be exercised than before his injury. If Eason’s extension is completed as expected and VanVleet opts in, the Rockets will have seven players under contract with an additional $45 million in salary commitments.

Durant’s salary for next season is projected to be $60 million. Including him, the Rockets’ total salary for eight players would reach about $197 million. By rule, the team will likely exercise the team options on rookie contracts for Thompson and Reid Shepard before November 1, adding another $23.4 million and pushing the total salary close to the projected $223.1 million luxury tax threshold for the 2026-27 season.

Wojnarowski pointed out that currently there is “some back-and-forth over the amount below the max salary”; since the Rockets must consider luxury tax limits, Eason’s potential extension could impact Durant’s renewal.

On the first day of training camp last month, Durant told reporters that he does intend to sign an extension with the Rockets but “cannot confirm the timing.”

In July this year, the Rockets acquired Durant from the Phoenix Suns in a seven-team trade. The Rockets finished last season with 52 wins but lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. Now, they are hoping to take a step forward with Durant’s arrival.