The Miami Heat may be willing to gamble while playing a game of chicken with the Phoenix Suns, but if they want to end the silliness and finalize a trade for Kevin Durant, it may very well hinge on including Kel'el Ware or an additional first-round pick in their offer.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Heat's chances of landing KD could revolve around whether Ware or a future first-round pick is eventually included in a deal. The way this reporting outlines talks between the Suns and Heat, it seems like either Miami needs to include Ware or another pick (aside from their 2025 selection) to break the impasse in trade talks.
That means Miami is probably offering a trade package that includes Andrew Wiggins, Duncan Robinson or Terry Rozier, Jaime Jaquez Jr. or Nikola Jovic, and the No. 20 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. If the Heat wants to pull this offer across the finish line, the Suns are likely asking for the inclusion of Ware or another first-round pick.
What does the Miami Heat value most?
In the end, if the Heat want to secure a deal for KD, it will likely come down to what they value most - Ware as a prospect or one of their future first-round picks (beyond the 2025 pick). It's an interesting debate, but it's probably a simple and fair resolution to the stalemate in trade talks between the Heat and Suns.
Would it be ideal for the Heat to acquire KD without having to give up their best trade assets? Sure, but that's not reasonable. If Miami is going to trade for KD, it's likely going to come via a package that's going to hurt a little.
In the end, it could very much come down to what the Heat would rather part ways with - Ware or another future pick. Understandably, this is not an easy decision for Miami to make.
On one hand, Ware does have plenty of promise as a prospect, and there's a reason to believe he's just scratching the surface of his potential. And if his rookie season was any indication, he'll have the chance to be a really effective player with a couple more years of development. He's also a great fit next to Bam Adebayo.
However, at the same time, parting ways with another future pick could continue to handcuff this team heading into the future. Considering that draft picks are now the preferred currency for star trades in the NBA, the Heat moving from another first-round pick could hurt them in a post-KD window.
There are fair arguments for both sides of the spectrum, and the Heat are certainly trying to be greedy in an attempt to have their cake and eat it too. But we know that's not likely or realistic for Miami. At some point, if the Heat is serious about ending the KD trade stalemate, they may have to concede to including Ware or an additional future first-round pick.