The days are counting down toward the 2025 NBA Draft, which begins on June 25, where the Miami Heat own the No. 20 overall pick.
However, that is also, reportedly, the (soft) deadline for the Phoenix Suns will trade superstar forward Kevin Durant, who’s entering the final year of his $54.7 million deal.
The four teams who have been most in the mix for the 15-time All-Star include the Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves. At this point in time, the Suns haven’t found a single deal they have liked (or else a deal would have been done), as time is running out to trade the 36-year-old after they screwed up by lumping him into trade talks ahead of February’s deadline.
Thus, they have no leverage in negotiation and there doesn’t appear to be any budging.
“The Phoenix Suns may be placing too high a value on Kevin Durant and might have to reduce their asking price in negotiating a trade,” Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reported Tuesday. “The Suns have ‘no leverage’ in part because of Durant’s age and because he wants to start fresh elsewhere, league sources say. The idea of Durant returning to a team that entertained deals for him before the 2025 trade deadline isn’t a pleasant one.
“So, a team can wait and see if Phoenix asks for less in a trade. The Suns also would like to get this done before the June 25-26 NBA draft because draft picks are expected to be part of any deal. … When The Republic began talking to league sources about the Suns trading Durant, one NBA executive said the team should always look to get the ‘best deal’ even when working with a player on finding a trade partner.”
The Miami Heat have a thin margin-for-error when it comes to the negotiation table for Durant. One should argue that they shouldn’t even be at the table because 1.) they don’t have enough assets and 2.) the window is passed for star-hunting, considering they’re less than two months removed from getting embarrassed in the first round to Cleveland.
If you want more on why they would be out of their minds to overpay for Durant, who, at 36, is still a very good offensive player, click here.
Now, at a discounted price, the discussion becomes slightly more fascinating, even though there would still need to be subsequent moves to justify. The more you pay for Durant, the less you have left over, and vice versa.
We know the Heat likely aren’t trying to trade Ware. It would be irresponsible and short-sighted to trade your best asset not named Bam Adebayo for Durant, who’s in the twilight of his career. Miami has three tradable first-round picks–in 2025, 2030 and 2032, the latter of which couldn’t be traded until after the new league year begins–plus a collection of young players (Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez) and a pair of expiring contracts that could help provide some salary relief (Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson). Oh, and Andrew Wiggins.
As HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported Monday, the Phoenix Suns have interest in Andrew Wiggins–who they would like to tag along with Ware in any Durant trade. Once again, considering the price for Durant is low, including Ware wouldn’t make any sense if nobody else is going to budge (which nothing suggests that will be the case … anytime soon, at least).
Miami also has to be careful about trading future firsts or first-round pick swaps. San Antonio’s taken advantage of trade partners with collecting future swaps because, well, teams are more willing them (as opposed to outright) and they don’t violate the Stepien Rule. If Miami’s acquiring an aging star, while it’s difficult to project what happens five years from now, there will be long-term ramifications, even if the Heat don’t tank (they still may suck anyway).
A lot can happen, but the Heat’s margin-for-error is thinner than San Antonio or Houston, who have a boatload of draft capital, intriguing young talent and, in Houston’s case, salary relief! Any action has an equal and opposite reaction. Miami’s in a Catch 22, even though they are going to have to offer a little bit more to the table if it wants to nab its 36-year-old star … and time is running out.
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The Suns want Ware as part of any trade. The Heat already has a SF named Wiggins. What they lack is a high assist rate PG (6+ apg) There are 27 PG’s in the NBA who averaged 6+ assists per game, none playing for the Heat. If Miami trades Wiggins and Ware plus draft picks, plus young players, the team will be both a C and a PG short. That team (with an unhappy Bam back at center) cannot compete any better than the late 2024-2025 team did, perhaps even worse. Plus, Durant’s numbers have declined from 2021-2022 (29.9 ppg. 7.4 rpg, 6.4 apg) to 2024-2025 (26.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.2 apg).
Per allucanhjeat:
…”Ware consistently made the most of his chances. He averaged a double-double (10.8 points and 10 rebounds) and better than a block per game (1.3) in his 36 starts. And during the 16 games in which his floor time reached 30-plus minutes, those per-game marks jumped to 16.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks.
Moreover, Ware flashed the exact kind of skill set all modern NBA teams should covet from their center spot. He protected the paint, consistently converted scoring chances around the rim, and had the ability to step away and fire from three. It wasn’t unlike the kind of massive two-way impact Myles Turner has had on the Indiana Pacers during their run to the NBA Finals.”
Successful Kevin Durant trade still won’t solve Heat’s biggest issueThey’d still have a glaring hole on the roster. (Excerpt from allucanheat.
…”Again, though, scoring isn’t Miami’s biggest issue on offense. The Heat need a true table-setter in the worst kind of way. No one on this roster averaged even six assists this past season; 27 players around the league did. The Heat have tried to address this shortage in different ways. They’ve upped the on-ball responsibilities on Herro. They regretfully gave up a future first to get Terry Rozier ahead of the 2024 trade deadline.
It was quite telling, though, that their most dynamic player at point guard this past season was basically a throw-in to the Jimmy Butler trade: Davion Mitchell, who’s played for three different teams over the past two seasons. Oh, and now he has restricted free agency awaiting him, and it might not be in Miami’s best interest to cover that cost.
For all of the attention the Heat are understandably giving Durant, they should be just as focused on finding a floor general. That’s not Herro’s game, Rozier has been a mess in Miami and Mitchell has never been labeled as such—sizzling stretch run be damned.”
Trade package for Kevin durant Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson). Oh, and Andrew Wiggins Jaime Jaquez Jr an first-round picks–in 2025, 2030 and 2032
If Miami was one player away from competing for a championship, maybe. They aren’t. Right now is the time for intelligence, not impulse. FYI, Durant is not known for his leadership or communication skills. He’s no team leader like “Playoff Jimmy” was before he became “Quitter Jimmy.”
top 10 player all time?
The top 15:
Not quite.
15. Dirk Nowitzki
14. Kevin Garnett
13. Oscar Robertson
12. Kevin Durant
11. Bill Russell
10. Tim Duncan
9. Stephen Curry
8. Wilt Chamberlain
7. Shaquille O’Neal
6. Larry Bird
5. Kobe Bryant
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
3. Magic Johnson
2. LeBron James
1. Michael Jordan