Not that it wasn't a real possibility before, but the Kevin Durant to the Miami Heat speculation is only going to grow with the recent reporting. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, KD and his team are reportedly sorting through trade options. Of the teams that have either already submitted a trade proposal to the Phoenix Suns
Adding more intrigue to this latest round of reporting is the fact that on a recent ESPN show hit, Shams singled out the Heat as a team that had been "engaged with the Suns over the last week." If nothing else, it does give the sense that the Heat, perhaps as much as any other team, could be considered one step closer to an acquisition of KD.
Over the last couple of weeks, the noise surrounding a KD trade has continued to increase. At this point, it would be surprising if there wasn't real movement on a potential trade of KD at some point before the NBA Draft. Many seem to believe that KD will be moved on NBA Draft night, if not before.
Considering that an additional pick in this year's draft could be one of the assets that many of the rumored suitors could be dangling in trade talks with the Suns, it would make sense for a trade to come to fruition before the NBA Draft arrives.
How big of a bidding war will KD draw?
One of the bigger questions as we inch closer and closer to a potential trade of KD revolves around how big of a bidding war we could see among the interested teams. As far as the Heat is concerned, there's probably a line in the sand that they must draw in trade discussions for KD.
Even though the Heat may feel that they need KD, especially after losing Jimmy Butler at the NBA Trade Deadline, I can't imagine they'd be willing to put everything on the table for the soon-to-be 37-year-old star.
But the fact that they've been "engaged" with the Suns in trade discussions is certainly a good sign for Heat fans. Is there a chance that a team like the San Antonio Spurs or Houston Rockets could come over the top and blow the Heat out of the water with a trade offer that the Suns can't refuse, and one that the Heat couldn't match? Absolutely.
However, at least for now, it does seem as if the Heat have as good of a shot as any other team mentioned in this report to pull off a deal for KD. It's clear that the KD to Heat possibility is becoming more and more real, and the recent reporting very much puts the Heat at the center of trade discussions. Even though it's no guarantee yet, it may be difficult for Heat fans not to be at least somewhat excited.