The discussions around Kevin Durant heated up but ultimately, the Suns chose not to part with their promising young players and draft picks, which kept Miami from acquiring the aging superstar.
As reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, both Durant and the Heat had some level of interest; however, Miami’s offers—including Jaime Jacquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, and the No. 20 draft pick—were declined.
In contrast, the Rockets successfully landed Durant in a significant deal involving the No. 10 pick and five second-round picks in this year’s draft.
The buzz surrounding Durant’s potential trade is intensifying as the NBA draft approaches, with various teams expressing interest.
While the Rockets, Heat, Spurs, and Timberwolves were all mentioned as possible contenders, it seems Durant wasn’t keen on a move to Minnesota, and the Spurs were focused on a different high-profile target.
This makes Houston and Miami the last two teams vying for a scoring forward.
The Suns had a range of options for trading Durant, but being in the last year of his four-year, $109 million deal gave Durant considerable leverage, making the team hesitant to deal him if they were unsure about his future commitment.
It looks like Miami’s President Pat Reilly opted to shake up the roster despite the young core not being a pressing issue.
Both Jacquez Jr. and Jovic were homegrown talents for Miami, while Highsmith was a bit of a hidden gem that emerged as a solid role player since joining the team in 2021.
Last season, Highsmith averaged 6.5 points and 3.4 rebounds, Jacquez Jr. put up 8.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, while Jovic had a notable night averaging 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 10.8 assists. On the other hand, Durant had a strong performance in his 16th season in the NBA, averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists.
