The Kevin Durant era with the Phoenix Suns may be firmly in the past, but new information has come to light that the franchise tried to land a game-changing center in Kel'el Ware while making calls to move KD. The Miami Heat stood their ground, but it all worked out for the Suns as they landed their own potential-filled big man in Khaman Maluach instead.
Heat refused to part with Ware in potential Durant deal
This info comes from Wes Goldberg of Locked On Heat, who joined Yossi Gozlan's "Third Apron Podcast" recently to break down Miami's offseason. While discussing the Heat striking to finally land Giannis Antetokounmpo, Goldberg revealed that they did inquire about Durant the previous summer.
"The Heat would not trade Kel'el Ware when Durant was getting traded to Houston, that was the line they drew in the sand and that was ultimately why that one didn't happen either."
Ware looks primed to break out on a Milwaukee Bucks roster that does not have much of anything this coming season. It is unclear what else the Heat were willing to offer prior to stopping at Ware, but this ended up working in the Suns' favor.
Jalen Green has failed to work out to this point, and they did get Dillon Brooks, but former 10th overall pick Maluach has ended up being the long-term center solution in The Valley. Still only 19-years-old, his Summer League explosion should have fans excited that his upside will top out above Ware's.
He still has a long way to go to become a regular contributor, and for the next few years at least, he will not be able to compete with the production that Ware gives the Bucks. Few could question the effort of Maluach during his rookie campaign, while the same cannot be said of Ware.
His motor has been questioned in the past, and if he can't add that level of intensity to his game, the Bucks might just have the next Deandre Ayton on their hands. Plenty of talent, not so much effort. Another reason to be happier with not only Maluach, but Oso Ighodaro as well. He offers more in the motor department, and combined with Maluach, should give the Suns more in tandem than Ware ever would.
This feels like a trade that the Suns ended up on the right side of. That might explain the unexpected shade Durant sent their way recently.
Suns get last laugh on Heat as they're stuck with Nick Richards
This tale of young centers has one final twist, and it involves former Sun Nick Richards. His time in Phoenix was poor, and it became obvious that he did not have what it took to be a starter for that group. Nobody was sorry to see him traded to the Chicago Bulls.
Now, as a result of their own depth issues from landing Antetokounmpo, the Heat have had to turn to none other than Richards to plug their own hole at the backup five position. You heard it here first: it won't work out for him in South Beach.
Any team would rather have a prospect with upside like Maluach over a proven commodity who may be a third-string center at best in Richards on their roster. Funny how the league has a way of working out like this.
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