Ime Udoka said the Rockets will rely on several players including Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Alperen Şengün and Kevin Durant for playmaking.

Durant is making $54.7 million for the 2025-26 season in the final year of a contract he signed with his former team, the Phoenix Suns. He is eligible to sign a two-year, $122 million maximum contract extension with the Rockets, who traded for him based on the belief that they could work out a longer term deal.