The Houston Rockets will enter the 2026-27 season with a rather interesting situation. On one hand, this team now looks better on paper than they did in their previous campaign. On the other hand, they arguably still do not have enough to get into the inner circle of championship contenders.

Kevin Durant is still with them, but that could actually change sooner rather than later. The superstar is naturally on the title-chasing part of his late career, but if the Rockets cannot take that definitive leap next season, he could very well try to force his way out of the franchise and jump ship at the first possible instance.

Do the Rockets have to worry about Kevin Durant requesting a trade?

As everyone knows, Durant is not new to that modus where he slowly brews a trade request. He did it in Brooklyn and Phoenix, and Houston might just be the next one on his list of abandoned squads.

Last season, Durant did the heavy lifting for the Rockets, so his absence in the first round of their playoff series against the Lakers can be tossed up as the biggest reason why they lost in that affair. If that dynamic persists and Houston still cannot win high-stakes games without him going ballistic, that will be an impetus for him to head elsewhere.

The fact that KD already had some off-court drama with the Rockets does not bode well for the stability seekers, either. His burner account controversy, which erupted around the All-Star break, never really got fully resolved so there must be some residue on that front.

For now, Houston will contend for one of the top spots in the West. Whether that culminates in something more remains to be seen, but if there is one thing certain, it is that Durant will not be content with a campaign similar to last season’s. Otherwise, the Rockets could have to deal with a familiar trade request.