Rockets Could Target Kawhi Leonard, Others to Pair With Kevin Durant

The good news is that the Houston Rockets avoided a first-round sweep with a convincing Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

The bad news is that questions remain about the direction of this team, regardless of how far they go in the playoffs this postseason.

The Rockets gave Kevin Durant a two-year contract extension worth $90 million, but the aging star has not exactly provided what Houston hoped for initially.

Still, it seems likely that Houston wants to add pieces to the roster and build a contender around Durant. And, all signs point to the Rockets aiming for a superstar to add to Durant, according to Michael Pina of The Ringer.

"If the Rockets go the other way, keep Durant, and believe they're not that far from making the Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, or Donovan Mitchell would presumably be on their radar," Pina wrote.

Pina also mentions names such as Karl-Anthony Towns, Joel Embiid and Darius Garland as options, although not quite as likely or high on the list as the others listed.

There's also a scenario where the Rockets move Durant, but considering they gave up Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and a first-round pick, it wouldn't likely net them as much if they traded Durant.

Could Kawhi Leonard Make Sense?

Nobody ever knows what the Los Angeles Clippers plan to do, but moving Leonard this offseason might be very realistic, and Pina says the Clippers star is the "most interesting name" in that conversation for Houston.

"Instead, I think they'll keep KD and pivot skyward with an even bigger blockbuster move. And even if he slashes their runway in half, Leonard, to me, is the most interesting name worth pursuing," Pina wrote.

Rockets big man Alperen Sengun would almost certainly be the first part of any trade conversation, and Leonard will be on an expiring contract next year, which makes it a rental for the Rockets.

Nonetheless, no matter what happens with the Rockets over the next week or two, they face a lot of questions this offseason in terms of the roster and direction of the franchise.

Related: Ime Udoka Shares a Crucial Update on Kevin Durant's Recovery

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This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 1:06 PM.