{"id":13025,"date":"2025-05-06T10:14:25","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T10:14:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/13025\/"},"modified":"2025-05-06T10:14:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T10:14:25","slug":"miami-heat-not-viewed-as-frontrunner-to-land-kevin-durant-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/13025\/","title":{"rendered":"Miami Heat not viewed as frontrunner to land Kevin Durant this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"play\"<\/p>\n

Giannis Antetokounmpo on being approached by Tyrese Haliburton’s dad<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo: “I’m happy for (Haliburton’s father,” but “disrespecting me, cursing at me” is “totally unacceptable.”<\/p>\n

Provided by Google<\/p>\n

Bam Adebayo has played all 645 of his NBA career games, counting playoffs, for the Miami Heat<\/a> over the course of eight seasons.<\/p>\n

What happened Monday, April 28, was not only a first for him, but for a franchise that has won three NBA championships.<\/p>\n

The Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> train-wrecked the Heat by 55 points, 138-83, in Game 4 in Miami in the first round to mark the largest margin of victory to clinch a series in NBA playoff history.<\/p>\n

Adebayo didn\u2019t need to check with team president Pat Riley to provide an offseason forecast for the Heat.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s going to be a lot of changes this summer,\u201d Adebayo said after Game 4. \u201cJust from my point of view, understanding how the guy with the silver hair works.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will one change involve superstar Kevin Durant? Miami reportedly was involved in trade talks with the Phoenix Suns<\/a> about Durant before the 2025 trade deadline.<\/p>\n

From Monday night:<\/p>\n

“It’s going to be a lot of changes this summer. Just from my point of view, understanding how the guy with the silver hair (Pat Riley) works.”<\/p>\n

Miami Heat big Bam Adebayo after having their season end with an 138-83 loss to Cleveland Cavaliers.<\/p>\n

Video: #NBA<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/kdwZPY8PlQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Those conversations may very well be revisited, but ESPN\u2019s Bobby Marks sees the Heat as a latter option to land, say, Milwaukee Bucks<\/a> superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo or Durant in a trade this summer compared to other teams that could offer more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think either player is going to be a challenge,\u201d Marks said on ESPN\u2019s NBA Today April 29. \u201cI think they\u2019re probably going to be in the back of the line of teams that have more available. We\u2019re maybe talking about Houston as one of those teams that has young players and draft picks.\u201d<\/p>\n

More: Do Rockets top Warriors with Kevin Durant as closer? Trade win-win for Phoenix Suns, Houston<\/a><\/p>\n

Marks was reacting to former NBA player Danny Green suggesting the Heat pursue Antetokounmpo or Durant to fix the Heat, which won just 37 games, finished 10th in the Eastern Conference and came out of the play-in tournament as the eighth seed in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don’t have much to give, but their best bet is to try to find a big star in the offseason,\u201d Green said. \u201cPeople talk about Kevin Durant. Giannis really. If the Bucks lose and Giannis wants out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Indiana Pacers<\/a> eliminated the Bucks in the first round, winning Game 5 in overtime, 119-118, on April 29 at home. Milwaukee hasn\u2019t won a playoff series in the last three years.<\/p>\n

“They don’t have much to give, but their best bet is to try to find a big star in the offseason. People talk about Kevin Durant. Giannis really. If the Bucks lose and Giannis wants out.”<\/p>\n

Danny Green on ESPN’s NBA Today discussing Miami Heat.<\/p>\n

Bobby Marks: “Either player is going\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/3n8OfFXuaT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t feel good, man,\u201d Antetokounmpo said after the loss as the Bucks were ahead, 118-111, with 40 seconds left in overtime. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t feel good. Just got to look myself in mirror and I just have to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo reluctantly addressed his chances of winning a second NBA championship in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to do this,\u201d he said. \u201cWhatever I say, I know how it\u2019s going to translate. I don\u2019t know, man. I wish I was still playing. I wish I was still competing and going back to Milwaukee (for Game 6). I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marks talked about the Heat looking to keep All-Star guard Tyler Herro, rookie center Kel\u2019el Ware and Adebayo, but Green believes they\u2019d have to part with Herro or Adebayo to land Antetokounmpo, whose three-year, $175-million extension starts next season.<\/p>\n

The same may hold true for Phoenix, based on ESPN reports the Suns were \u201cseeking significant compensation\u201d from Miami, which looked to move Jimmy Butler, before the trade deadline.<\/p>\n

The Golden State Warriors ended up acquiring Butler in a trade and are a win way from advancing to the Western Conference semifinals as a seventh seed.<\/p>\n

Golden State holds a 3-1 series lead over the Rockets going into Game 5 on April 30 in Houston.<\/p>\n

Durant is entering the final year of his $194-million deal.<\/p>\n

Have opinions about the current state of the\u00a0Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at\u00a0dmrankin@gannett.com<\/a>\u00a0or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at\u00a0@DuaneRankin<\/a>.<\/p>\n