The Heat were in the mix for Kevin Durant until the end, but an unwillingness to part with young talent and draft picks kept Miami from acquiring the aging superstar.
There was mutual interest between Durant and the Heat, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported, but Miami declined the chance to send Jaime Jacquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, the No. 20 pick and other draft assets to the Suns in a deal.
Instead, the Rockets pounced, acquiring Durant in a Sunday blockbuster for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in this year’s draft and five second-round picks.
Durant trade rumors had been heating up ahead of Wednesday’s NBA draft, with a list of teams getting whittled down over time.
The Rockets, Heat, Spurs and Timberwolves had all been mentioned as potential suitors, but Durant reportedly had no interest in joining Minnesota and the Spurs opted against pursuing the future Hall of Famer.
That left Houston and Miami as the final two teams in negotiations for the scoring forward.
The Suns could have traded Durant anywhere, of course, but the 15-time All-Star had all the leverage since he is entering the final year of his four-year, $194 million contract and will be up for a new deal.
Teams were wary of trading for Durant if they didn’t feel confident he would resign.
Even if that wasn’t an issue for Miami, president Pat Riley seemingly decided against blowing up his young core for KD – despite a blockbuster trade seemingly giving the Heat a better chance at contending for a title next year.
Jacquez Jr. and Jovic are both homegrown players for Miami, and Highsmith was largely unknown until the Heat picked him up in 2021 and developed him into a productive role player.
Highsmith averaged 6.5 points and 3.4 rebounds last year, while Jacquez Jr. averaged 8.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.5 points and Jovic put up 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 10.8 assists a night.
Last year, in his 16th season in the NBA, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists.