Pat Riley and the Miami Heat could be gearing up for a wild offseason. After dealing Jimmy Butler before the trade deadline, the team is in need of a new franchise cornerstone. Historically, Riley has never shied away from bold moves, and with several high-profile players potentially on the market, he may look to strike again. Among those names is Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant.
A recent suggestion has surfaced that Miami could make a major play for Durant via a blockbuster trade. CBS Sports analyst Sam Quinn floated the idea of a three-team deal that would bring the future Hall of Famer to South Beach. While the proposal is purely speculative at this point, it’s one that could make strategic sense for all parties involved.
Durant, who had another standout season with the Suns in 2024-25 at age 36, appeared in 62 games, averaging 26.6 points, six rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game, while shooting an efficient 52.7% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc.
While adding Durant wouldn’t instantly make the Heat title favorites, it would certainly raise their profile and appeal to other star players. However, pulling off such a deal—potentially costing Miami players like Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jović, Duncan Robinson, and two future first-round picks—would thin out their depth. The team would then need to be aggressive in free agency to round out the roster with experienced contributors.
Although it’s unclear how likely this trade scenario is, and while there may be more probable destinations for Durant, Pat Riley’s history makes it unwise to completely rule out a big swing. Still, fans should temper expectations about seeing Durant in a Heat uniform next season.
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