Recent mock trade idea has Heat finally landing longtime star target

As the Miami Heat enter year one of their Giannis Antetokounmpo build, the team’s final form may be far from complete. And Pat Riley and staff will be monitoring if the right star to pair with Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo emerges.

Heat insider Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald recently reported that Kyrie Irving, Zach LaVine and Jrue Holiday could all be potential options entering the 2027 trade deadline and free agency. However, CBS Sports released an intriguing mock trade idea that potentially adds another option into that mix in Houston Rockets’ forward Kevin Durant.

The Miami Heat have had at least three serious KD pursuits over the years.

Latest Heat mock trade idea from @CBSSports:

Heat receive— Kevin Durant
Rockets receive— Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic and a 2029 first-round pick

(h/t @WadexFlash) pic.twitter.com/RJUr3eLnZ4
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) September 8, 2026

Miami has often used the strategy of circling back to failed pursuits of players of their liking over the course of Pat Riley’s legendary tenure in South Beach. Circling back to yet another possible Durant acquisition would be no different.

Most recently, the Heat came up as the runner ups in the Durant sweepstakes one year ago during the 2025 offseason. They were reluctant to include Kel’el Ware and additional draft assets for an, at the time, 37 years old Durant with the Phoenix Suns.

Ultimately, Miami’s patience with holding onto those assets paid off when they unloaded everything for an in-his-prime Antetokounmpo this summer. But Durant’s one-year Houston stint ended a little shaky last spring, as the Rockets were underwhelming bounced out of the first round by a Luka Doncic-less LA Lakers team. If they disappoint or show inconsistency again throughout this season, an aging Durant could become available once again at the deadline or 2027 offseason.

For the price of Nikola Jovic, Andrew Wiggins and a first-round pick— according to the CBS Sports mock trade— seems like a no brainer for Miami to finally get their hands on KD.

A Giannis, Durant and Adebayo “Big Three” would be one of the strongest trios in NBA history.

Even in Durant’s later years of his career, he has been healthy and remains an offensive force. And one that could step into a closing role capable of creating his own offense in late-game situations for this Heat team. That type of player is quite literally the only thing missing from this build currently, who now have enough shooting around Antetokounmpo (after adding Klay Thompson) and the make of a top-three defensive team already.

If it costs even slightly more than what the mock trade projects, perhaps an additional second-round pick or two, a deal like this makes a lot of sense for Miami who’s in a win-now window with Antetokounmpo leading the way.

If such a deal ever presents itself in the near future, a potential two-year run with KD in the mix could be Riley’s best opportunity at doubling down on another championship for the Heat.