After landing on Kevin Durant‘s short list of preferred destinations, the Miami Heat have the real shot at acquiring the 15-time All-Star from the Phoenix Suns.
It all depends on how far they are willing to go to get a deal done.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Heat have a “swing” piece that they were reluctant to relinquish in past trade talks.
der Kel’el Ware, given the Suns’ noted hole at center, could be the true swing factor in the Heat’s Durant pursuit. In February, it was clear: Sources say Miami was unwilling at the trade deadline to part with either of its recent first-round draft successes: Ware or Jaime Jacquez Jr. Could that change now after Miami fell so flat in the playoffs with its post-Butler roster?” Fischer wrote on “The Stein Line” Substack newsletter.
The Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Heat in the first-round of the playoffs. They struggled mightily following the messy exit of Jimmy Butler.
If the Suns send Durant to South Beach, Ware, last year’s 15th overall pick, could headline the Heat’s trade package.
The 7-foot center is fresh off a promising rookie season. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 9.3 points on 55.
Heat’s ‘Swing’ Piece Holds Key in Kevin Durant Trade Talk
Kevin Durant reacts after a call during a game against the Timberwolves.
After landing on Kevin Durant list of preferred destinations, the Miami Heat have the real shot at acquiring the 15-time All-Star from the Phoenix Suns.
It all depends on how far they are willing to go to get a deal done.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Heat have a “swing” piece that they were reluctant to relinquish in past trade talks.
“Miami’s ultimate willingness to surrender Kel’el Ware, given the Suns’ noted hole at center, could be the true swing factor in the Heat’s Durant pursuit. In February, it was clear: Sources say Miami was unwilling at the trade deadline to part with either of its recent first-round draft successes: Ware or Jaime Jacquez Jr. Could that change now after Miami fell so flat in the playoffs with its post-Butler roster?” Fischer wrote on “The Stein Line” Substack newsletter.
The Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Heat in the first-round of the playoffs. They struggled mightily following the messy exit of Jimmy Butler.
Kel’el Ware was named as the “swing” piece for the Miami Heat in the Kevin Durant trade talks.
If the Suns send Durant to South Beach, Ware, last year’s 15th overall pick, could headline the Heat’s trade package.
The 7-foot center is fresh off a promising rookie season. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 9.3 points on 55.4% shooting and 7.4 rebounds in 22.2 minutes.
The Heat pursued Durant at the trade deadline when the Suns were looking to acquire Butler. After talks fell through, the Heat ultimately shipped Butler to the Golden State Warriors, who reached the second round in the stacked Western Conference buoyed by the five-time All-Star’s arrival.
With one year and $54.7 million left on his four-year, $190 million deal, Durant is a flight risk after in what could be a one-year rental. Fortunately for the Heat, they are one of the three teams that Durant is willing to commit long-term should they trade for him, ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported. The other two are the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets
