Kevin Durant is one of the most prominent players on the watch list, and odds are he’ll be on the move once the offseason begins. With the Phoenix Suns projected to miss the playoffs and the front office putting his name on the trade list, it’s reasonable to say that his days as a Sun are numbered. In fact, multiple teams have lined up to sign the two-time NBA champion.
The Miami Heat are one of the teams that might become Durant’s new home.
Without an official face for the club, Durant could easily fill that hole and raise the group from a borderline Play-In team to a championship contender.
Miami Heat’s trade proposal for Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant joins the Heat.
Suns acquire Andrew Wiggins, Duncan Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr. First round draft picks for 2027, 2029, and 2031
Jimmy Butler’s departure at this year’s trade deadline leaves the Miami Heat without a true superstar. Although the organization can continue to develop Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro into superstars, the availability of a superstar like Durant is appealing at best. More significantly, the Heat have enough assets to complete a transaction.
Miami can put together a package featuring one-time All-Star Andrew Wiggins, sharpshooter Duncan Robinson, and promising youngster Jaime Jaquez Jr. They can also include three first-round draft picks to sweeten the bargain. This is a package that meets the Suns’ qualifications for swapping out the two-time NBA Finals MVP.
It’s understandable that Durant wants to play for a championship-caliber team. Obviously, the Heat can provide him with help from emerging center Bam Adebayo and former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro. Joining a rugged and determined Heat club should put him in a strong position to end his championship drought.
An excellent cushion for life after Jimmy Butler.
The Butler saga undoubtedly dominated the first part of the Heat’s 2024-25 season. Without him, it took some time for Miami to go forward. Right now, the Heat appear to be a respectable Play-In Tournament club, sitting in 10th place with a 36-44 record. However, if they want to elevate their game while capitalizing on Adebayo and Herro’s ascent, adding Durant would be a wise move.
Durant would undoubtedly be a better option than Wiggins at the starting forward position. Indeed, his addition has the potential to fill Butler’s role as the team’s primary shot creator.
With a superstar like Durant, the Heat can extend the elite scorer’s career. This should provide the franchise with enough time to consider turning over the reigns to young stars Adebayo and Herro. Although these two young stars have quickly established themselves in the league, they are still a few years away from carrying the entire weight of the organization on their shoulders.
Future of the Phoenix Suns
If the Suns deal with the Heat, they will gain flexibility while also having the opportunity to replenish their depleted draft capital. Those three first-round draft picks will be critical to preparing for the future.
Furthermore, Jaquez Jr. is likely to be Phoenix’s most valuable asset in the deal.
The Heat sophomore’s season hasn’t gone well. Jaquez Jr. has taken a step back, scoring only 8.1 points per game. It didn’t help that he created unneeded drama over adultery charges against Spoelstra’s ex-wife, Nikki. However, sophomore slumps are rather common among young players. As a result, Phoenix should be willing to invest in a player like him as one of their future foundation pieces.
Furthermore, having Wiggins may make it easier for the Suns to replace Durant’s spot. On the other side, it would be intriguing to observe how Phoenix will handle its glut of shooters. Parading Robinson, Beal, and Booker could make life difficult for opposition perimeter defenders. When they got going with their lethal three-point shooting, any opponent would have a nightmare covering them.
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