NBA Exec: Heat Would Be a ‘Favorite’ for Kevin Durant If Suns Trade Superstar

Andrew PetersApril 30, 2024

Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images

After the Phoenix Suns season ended at the hands of a first-round sweep against the Minnesota Timberwolves, one Western Conference executive believes the Miami Heat could land star Kevin Durant, per Heavy’s Sean Deveney.

“There are a few teams that should come up,” the executive said. “The Heat would be a favorite.”

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst also noted that Durant’s eligibility for a contract extension puts the two sides in an interesting position.

“There’s this kind of interesting moment happening,” Windhorst said on the Pat McAfee Show. “Kevin Durant is eligible for a contract extension…He has two years and $105 million on his contract. But, because he is eligible for a contract extension, it creates a natural moment for Durant and the team to basically make a comment on each other.”

Windhorst said that contract negotiations between Durant and the Suns could be telling this summer. Durant could choose not to sign an extension, implying that he might not want to stick around for the foreseeable future. Phoenix could not offer Durant an extension, indicating it doesn’t want to give an aging player a hefty deal.

Regardless, Durant is still under contract through the 2026-27 season, so a move to Miami before next season would have to be through a trade, but that might be a move the Heat are willing to make to add a star alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

The pairing of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal was a failure in the first year, and it might be the only year the trio is together. As Durant has done before, he could request a trade and force his way out of Phoenix to join another team he thinks can compete for a championship.

A trade could ultimately be smart for the Suns as well. To put Durant, Booker and Beal together, Phoenix gave up most of its first-round picks for the next few seasons. It could get some of those picks back in a trade with Miami, or get some pieces to reload for another Finals run.

Whatever direction the Suns decide to go, it’s clear something needs to change after getting dominated by the Timberwolves in the first round.

For the Heat, Durant could be the missing piece that finally gets them a championship outside of the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh years. Miami has been on the cusp over the last four years but fell short in both of its recent Finals appearances.

Butler is looking for his first championship while Durant is looking to add another to his resume, and the two could help each either do that in Miami.