Miami Heat president Pat Riley hinted during his end-of-season press conference that, depending on the player’s fit and contract, they could target an aging star this offseason.
All signs immediately pointed to Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, who will be entering the last year of his current contract worth $54.7 million. The worst-kept secret in the NBA is that Durant, 37, played his last game with the Suns, with the Heat’s previous interest in the 15-time All-Star suggesting they could circle back the wagon.
Well, on Wednesday, we received confirmation from ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania that the Heat were among the most interested teams–as well as four other teams, including one East rival.
“Teams that have expressed interest in Durant, sources said, mainly feature the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. Several wild-card suitors have made inquiries on Durant in the past seven to 10 days, sources said,” Charania wrote Wednesday. “Teams around the NBA have been anticipating that Durant would be traded ever since the Suns engaged in talks around the February trade deadline, which passed with the All-Star still in Phoenix.
None of this news is surprising or particularly new, given what most of us expected. Last we examined, we listed a few possible suitors for Durant, with each of the aforementioned five being named.
However, one minute detail regarding a possible extension in Charania’s report is important to note.
“Suns officials and Kleiman will continue to meet on trade conversations — with talks expected to escalate before the NBA draft later this month,” Charania said. “Durant is on a contract worth $54.7 million for the 2025-26 season, giving him some leverage in navigating his future in partnership with the Suns. As trade talks progress, his desire for a long-term extension could play a critical factor.”
By virtue of NBA’s trade-and-extend rules, Durant would be able to sign an extension worth up to $112 million upon being traded. If he waited six months after the trade, he’d be eligible to sign a two-year, $124 million extension.
Durant, 36, averaged 26.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 62 games for the Suns last year, shooting 52.7 percent from the floor, 43.0 percent from 3-point range and 83.9 percent from the free-throw line, the worst mark of his career.
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I like it. I think if the Heat make a move like this, it won’t just be a trade for Kevin Durant. I think everyone except Bam and Herro are on the trading block (probably a couple key pieces Riley would like to keep but is willing to part with for the right price), and I think the Heat will try to rope in multiple teams to completely rebuild the roster between now and the start of next season.
It would be a huge mistake if they do go after Durant. As with Beal, the monkey will be off the back of Phoenix and on the back of Miami. Way too much money to pay him and way too many assets to cough up. 2 years $124M extension? WTF? The other teams mentioned above (Houston, San Antonio, Minnesota and New York) are in much better positions (players and draft picks) to pursue him than Miami.
Heat should wait a year, clear the books, draft 2 good prospects (2025 & 2026), continue developing it’s players on rookie contracts and look around for 2026 UFAs, RFAs and trade options when the team will be in better financial and personnel positions. If a reasonable trade is presented, Riley should consider it. However, he should not appear to be desperate pursuing trades, as he was with Butler. It is much better to be in a position of strength waiting for desperate trade offers from other teams to come in rather than in a position of weakness desperately pursuing trades.
Unfortunately, thanks to Andrew Wiggins, the Heat are now 2 years away from clearing the books. And the East is wide open. I was a big believer in the “clear the books” idea until the Wiggins trade happened. Now I think that dream is dead.
Based on two decades of watching Riley operate, I don’t think he’d do a straight up trade for Kevin Durant. But I absolutely believe he would do a massive trade that brings in Durant plus another couple vets. And if that costs the Heat Jovic and Jaquez and Ware and a future pick to make it happen, I believe he would do it.
Wiggins is a two-way player who averages 18-19 points a game and is on a team friendly contract. He is not the problem. Jovic, Jaquez, Ware, and a pick won’t come close for Durant. If you throw Bam in there I think you’ll have a deal… but then Mimi would be Phoenix 2.0 without Booker.
Don’t look up Wiggins playoff averages
Only if you promise not to look up Herro’s…which are worse.
Maybe if you look up career averages. If you look at last season, Tyler averged more points, assists, and even more rebounds than Wiggins.