Before this year’s busy NBA trade deadline came to a close, the Miami Heat had ample time to address all options with disgruntled Jimmy Butler. Prior to ultimately agreeing to trade for an Andrew Wiggins-headlined package, the Heat did their due diligence in calling on the availability of another superstar.
Kevin Durant was quietly put on the trade block, as the underperforming Phoenix Suns were reportedly open to moving the future Hall of Fame talent. Of course, Phoenix and Butler each had mutual interest in each other.
Additionally, it appeared that the Heat and Durant also had at least some mutual interest as well. The Suns’ star didn’t want to be traded, but ESPN’s Shams Charania noted afterwards that Miami would’ve been one of the only destinations he’d be OK landing with.
Shams: “Kevin Durant and the Suns are expected to work together to trade him to a contender this off-season.”
— 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 (@WadexFlash) March 3, 2025
Bam is in his prime, get him KD this summer. Don’t waste his years. pic.twitter.com/EXMaNhN5EC
Miami and Durant have circled each other for years now. And Pat Riley will potentially have his last chance to reel in his biggest whale since LeBron James during this upcoming offseason.
With the Suns holding onto the 36 year-old past the deadline, it paves a route for his asking price to go down over the summer. That’s where the Heat should pounce— as they have the young players and contracts to make a blockbuster deal work.
However, there are a handful of teams that may be in the mix to steal the next franchise whale from Riley.
1. Houston Rockets
Both of the Houston Rockets and Miami are in similar positions in the NBA landscape. Young core’s that are in the middle of the pack of their respective conference’s playoff hunt. The main difference in terms of the trade market between them though, is that the Rockets have more draft capital.
The Suns mortgaged their entire future by commuting to the Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal trio. It didn’t pan out, and now they have zero draft picks to their name over the next several years to show for it.
If picks are the Suns main priority, rather than expiring contracts or already established young players, the Rockets could make it a competitive bid.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
It was reported after the deadline that one team who made a last minute call on Durant before the deadline was the Minnesota Timberwolves. An Anthony Edwards and Durant pairing would be both entertaining and lethal in the league.
Durant is also Edward’s favorite player and role model, as such a move would make their franchise star motivated. The Timberwolves took a huge gamble on that Karl Anthony-Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo blockbuster before the start of the 2024-25 season.
That trade did not work in Minnesota’s favor, who wound up becoming a lot worse in the standings compared to the prior season. Perhaps a Durant acquisition can help make up for their recent blunder.
3. OKC Thunder
This is a move that would be frightening for everyone involved in the NBA. A Durant reunion with the OKC Thunder, the team that drafted him and reached the 2012 NBA Finals together, would be a polarizing move.
It would shift the entire league’s landscape and create a more organic and reputable ‘super team.’ The Thunder are the top team in the Western Conference and own the second best record in the association. The one asterisk over their group has been the lack of postseason experience— Durant would fix that instantly.
However, the Suns superstar had no interest in re-opening those cans of worms in a Golden State Warriors reunion. The only question mark would be getting the green light from Durant on a move to another former team of his.