(Photo via Getty Images)
Earlier this summer, the Miami Heat were at the finish line of acquiring 15-time NBA All-Star and future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant. Both the Phoenix Suns and Durant were looking to move on from each other, and Miami was on the 36-year-old’s short list of preferred destinations.
In fact, the Heat were the runner up for his services on the trade market.
Ultimately, the Suns liked the offer from the Houston Rockets better. The official trade details included Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and five second-round draft picks in exchange for KD.
It was a disappointing outcome, considering that this was perhaps the third or fourth time that Pat Riley and the front office aggressively pursued Durant— only to come up short each time. A Durant arrival in South Beach would have instantly elevated Miami’s ceiling in a wide open Eastern Conference next season.
Plenty of Heat fans doubted the fit because of his age, but Durant has yet to show any signs of a decline. He is coming off a 2024-25 season averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists on elite shooting efficiency.
Now months later, the Heat’s final trade offer and Phoenix’s counter offer have been leaked.
Heat’s unwillingness to include Nikola Jovic in the trade package is what made the Suns look elsewhere.
In a recent tweet by Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, he reported all the details immediately following the Heat’s Haywood Highsmith trade. Some initially speculated that Highsmith was the sticking point in Durant negotiations, but that was not the case.
It’s been speculated that the Heat front office is allegedly “extremely high” on Jovic. Despite missing some time due to injury last year, Jovic has the most potential out of Miami’s entire younger core outside of arguably Kel’el Ware.
He has some untapped talent as a playmaker and shooter, along with a commitment to getting stronger over the years. At 6-foot-11, he makes an intriguing prospect to develop as a versatile power forward that can handle the ball. Considering the Heat’s lack of big man depth now, they will need Jovic’s size more than ever.
The only problem is that Jovic needs to truly pan out under coach Erik Spoelstra to justify striking out on a generational talent like KD.
However, it has been reported that the Rockets are not willing to offer an aging Durant a max extension— at least not yet. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026 if not extended. The Heat could have an opportunity to revisit the idea of adding Durant, but this time on their own terms.
KD was just another example of failed star pursuits from the Heat front office over the years. But their reluctance to empty the farm for his services could wind up being a brilliant move if they get put into position to sign him outright next offseason.
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I’m glad Miami didn’t sell the ranch for that selfish mercenary. He is not a Heat Culture type. He’s just after the $ and the individual glory to feed his inflated ego. If that weren’t true, he would never have left Golden State.
However, what Miami does need to do is trade for a good frontcourt player (PF/C) to rotate with Ware and Bam. If either one of them goes down just before the beginning of the 2025-2026 season, Miami will be in very, very deep doo doo. Those first 23 games will be extremely challenging with both of them. With only one of them available…Fuggedaboudit!
Brooklyn and Phoenix learned in hard way. Houston is next in line.
Team with Durant as main player is not a good team.
I m glad Heat avoided that mistake.
Jovic dude