The Phoenix Suns are exploring Kevin Durant trades after missing the playoffs, and the Miami Heat are the obvious partner. There will be several bidders for the all-time great scorer. The 36-year-old still put up monster numbers, but the Suns' massive payroll is forcing them to cut costs.
Trading Durant allows them to retool around Devin Booker. He wants to spend his entire career in Phoenix, and the franchise must keep a competitive roster around him. The Suns' only shot of making that a reality is maximizing their return for KD and completely overhauling their team. Phoenix needs to find a way to move Beal and put pieces that fit around Book.
The Heat have flirted with Kevin Durant for years, including making a run before the trade deadline. Miami thought the asking price was too rich, but things will be different this summer. The Suns are determined to move on, and there is a desperate need on the other side.
Heat desperately need Kevin Durant to stay in contention
Miami was destroyed by the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. They lost by an average of 30.5 points per game in the sweep and looked like a team that didn’t belong in the postseason after trading Jimmy Butler. They lacked offensive firepower and struggled to trust their young talent. Davion Mitchell earned his place in South Beach, but the rest of the roster behind Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo was lacking.
They need a lights-out scorer to relieve the offensive pressure. Durant can create shots, make plays, and stretch the floor. He is a better scorer than Jimmy Butler and instantly makes the Heat a dangerous team in the East. They are not a serious title threat, but Miami would make the playoffs with a shot to win in round one.
Pat Riley is always chasing his next star. The Heat do not have the assets to land Giannis Antetokounmpo, which puts them squarely in the Durant sweepstakes. They can trade three first-round draft picks and have young talents like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic. The Suns have just two players under 25 years old on their roster, so getting a couple of young pieces and draft picks is a must.
This may not be the trade Suns fans want, but Durant turns 37 in September. He is entering the final year of his contract and making $54.7 million. It is a hefty price to pay for an aging superstar with a lengthy injury history. Phoenix is not recouping what they paid, and the Heat may have the best offer.
The Phoenix Suns will trade Kevin Durant this offseason. It should be all about maximizing their return and trying to build a competitive roster around Devin Booker. The Miami Heat are the obvious trade partner for KD, and the new front office should already be working on the deal. There will be needed changes. Hopefully, that is enough to get the Suns out of their current mess, but fans shouldn’t count on it.