5 Way-too-early trade deadline targets if the Heat stumble out of the gate

5. Kevin Durant

What if the Phoenix Suns stumble out of the gate?

If they do, it won’t take long for trade rumors to start swirling around Phoenix.

Kevin Durant would be the obvious target. The Suns don’t want to trade Devin Booker, the face of the franchise, and Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause complicates a deal. So Durant is the logical one to trade if they are forced to make a move.

The second tax apron makes things difficult for both teams. The Suns are over the second apron and the Heat are only a hair below it. Any deal would have to strike a specific financial balance.

But if the Suns do look to start over, Durant, even at 36, will be a highly-coveted player. He’s the kind of piece that could maximize Butler’s window and catapult the Heat to the top rung of the East.

The Heat have attempted to acquire Durant a couple of times in the past and, if he ever became available again, I’d expect Pat Riley to try again.