Kevin Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets in a three-player package Sunday. (Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
While they were in the mix once again, the Miami Heat did not land Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant Sunday, as he was dealt to the Houston Rockets in a three-player, six-pick trade.
More details have been disclosed about what a potential Heat package would’ve looked like for Durant. While we know that second-year center Kel’el Ware was a sticking point, we don’t know what the whole package would’ve looked like.
Though according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Heat were unwilling to part with their two best young assets not named Kel’el Ware, in addition to the No. 20 pick and other draft capital.
“The Suns’ trade conversations focused on the Rockets and Heat in recent days, but both teams showed an unwillingness to part with young cornerstones such as Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard (Houston) and Kel’el Ware (Miami) in a Durant deal,” Charania’s report read. “The Heat made multiple offers for Durant but ultimately turned down the opportunity to place Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, the No. 20 pick and other draft assets in a deal, sources said.”
Other draft assets mean future first-round picks; the Heat has two tradable future first-round picks in 2030 and 2032, and doesn’t own any of their future second-round picks through 2031.
Longtime Miami sports writer and insider Barry Jackson echoed that the Heat were hesitant to give up a combination of young players and draft capital for the 15-time All-Star shortly thereafter.
“For a player that age and with that injury history, Heat did not want to include multiples firsts PLUS multiple young players it values,” Jackson tweeted Sunday. “It would have given up one of each (one first and one young player it likes, though they didn’t want to give up Ware). That was their philosophy in February, and the end of last season didn’t make them change that philosophy.”
For a player that age and with that injury history, Heat did not want to include multiples firsts PLUS multiple young players it values. It would have given up one of each (one first and one young player it likes, though they didn’t want to give up Ware). That was their… https://t.co/p46oVwD5t9
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) June 22, 2025
Whether Wiggins, Rozier or Duncan Robinson were used as salary fillers to get the money to match (Heat needed to trade roughly $44 million), trading multiple first-round picks plus two of your best young assets for Durant would’ve been a desperate overpay.
As we have previously discussed, arguably the most important part of acquiring Durant would’ve been what proceeded. If their war chest of assets eroded, what would’ve been the point of acquiring Durant in the first place?! To be more watchable?! Is that it?!
Throughout the entire process, Miami wanted the 36-year-old at its own price; Houston bucked up and offered a polarizing, albeit young guard in Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks (whose contract is declining), Phoenix’s own 2025 first-round pick (No. 10) plus five second-rounders. The Heat wouldn’t have been able to match that unless they grossly overpaid, whether Ware was included or not.
Obviously, the calculus changes if the Heat extended Durant for two additional years, but you’d be extending an elite offensive player–albeit one with a recent track record of soft tissue injuries–through his age-39 season. And at what cost?
What are your thoughts about Charania’s and Jackson’s reports? Let us know in the comments below!
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