Heat, Suns Kevin Durant Talks Could Hinge On Kel'el Ware

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Miami Heat could have the easiest pathway to acquiring Kevin Durant via trade due to their ability to send various starting-level players to the Phoenix Suns, along with three tradeable first round picks. Andrew Wiggins and Duncan Robinson could be acquired by the Suns to add depth to their rotation.

The Heat could also trade No. 20 in this month's draft along with first rounders in 2030 and 2032. By contrast, the Minnesota Timberwolves can only offer the No. 17 pick this year and no future selections.

Miami's ability to acquire Durant could hinge on whether they will be agreeable to trading Kel'el Ware. The Suns have a major hole at center and Ware would help in that area. The Heat were unwilling to trade either Ware or Jaime Jacquez Jr. at the deadline.

When Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets in 2022, he had the Heat on his wish list right behind the Suns. Miami also tried to acquire Durant at the 2025 trade deadline when they were evaluating Jimmy Butler deal options.

Via Jake Fischer/The Stein Line

[CaHgO]

So after trading Ware, Wiggins, and Robinson, who will play? KD, the cashier and the janitor?

[elchengue20]

So after trading Ware, Wiggins, and Robinson, who will play? KD, the cashier and the janitor?

Mitchell
Hero
KD
Jovic
Bam

Bench: Rozier, Highsmith, Jaquez,

Thats actually a pretty good starting 5 and decent depth. Don't see them as big contenders but not a bad team at all.

[CaHgO]

So after trading Ware, Wiggins, and Robinson, who will play? KD, the cashier and the janitor?

Mitchell
Hero
KD
Jovic
Bam

Bench: Rozier, Highsmith, Jaquez,

Thats actually a pretty good starting 5 and decent depth. Don't see them as big contenders but not a bad team at all.

LOL, are you for real?!

Mitchell on a good team is a 7th man, at best. Hero's only upside is he can arguably score, but he is extremely limited and nowhere near elite even in that area. Apart from that, he is abysmally atrocious at everything else - defense, playmaking, ball-handling, athleticism and physicality, leadership. He should be a bench scoring option, not a starter, yet alone your team's #1. KD, at 37, doing nothing but scoring, is essentially a slightly better but much older version of Hero - with the exact same downsides, however taking a huge amount of money. Jovic - bench player on a good team. Might improve somewhat in the future, but his ceiling is not really high and he is currently a below average forward. He is versatile, I give him that, but would not be starting on a contending team. Bam - their best player (which shows how much everyone else sucks) - versatile, great defender, but super limited offensively and can't get his own shot. Scoring below 20, can't shoot, not even a top 5 center in the league and has already hit his ceiling.
Rozier and Higsmith shouldn't even be in the NBA.

This team, even with Durant, is not even a play-in team. They are without a doubt a worse team than Phoenix. It comes as a no surprise they have been struggling to get into the playoffs for the last 3 seasons. If they weren't in a super weak EC, and if they didn't have Jimmy and Spoelstra, they wouldn't have sniffed playoff basketball for years.

The roster you are describing "pretty good" is laughable and pathetic.

[elchengue20]

So after trading Ware, Wiggins, and Robinson, who will play? KD, the cashier and the janitor?

Mitchell
Hero
KD
Jovic
Bam

Bench: Rozier, Highsmith, Jaquez,

Thats actually a pretty good starting 5 and decent depth. Don't see them as big contenders but not a bad team at all.

LOL, are you for real?!

Mitchell on a good team is a 7th man, at best. Hero's only upside is he can arguably score, but he is extremely limited and nowhere near elite even in that area. Apart from that, he is abysmally atrocious at everything else - defense, playmaking, ball-handling, athleticism and physicality, leadership. He should be a bench scoring option, not a starter, yet alone your team's #1. KD, at 37, doing nothing but scoring, is essentially a slightly better but much older version of Hero - with the exact same downsides, however taking a huge amount of money. Jovic - bench player on a good team. Might improve somewhat in the future, but his ceiling is not really high and he is currently a below average forward. He is versatile, I give him that, but would not be starting on a contending team. Bam - their best player (which shows how much everyone else sucks) - versatile, great defender, but super limited offensively and can't get his own shot. Scoring below 20, can't shoot, not even a top 5 center in the league and has already hit his ceiling.
Rozier and Higsmith shouldn't even be in the NBA.

This team, even with Durant, is not even a play-in team. They are without a doubt a worse team than Phoenix. It comes as a no surprise they have been struggling to get into the playoffs for the last 3 seasons. If they weren't in a super weak EC, and if they didn't have Jimmy and Spoelstra, they wouldn't have sniffed playoff basketball for years.

The roster you are describing "pretty good" is laughable and pathetic.

It's a better team than Phoenix who basically had Booker and nobody else. Beal sucks.


You have scoring with Herro and KD, Bam is a good 3th option. Also decent agregate playmaking as all 5 starters are competent in that regard.

On defense Bam is a great anchor and Mitchell good point of attack defender. Jovic is decent. Not saying they are going to be a powerhouse but they can compete.

Jovic as your glue guy 5th man on that team can really thrive, he has potential.

The depth is decent with a bench scorer in Rozier, high energy 3+D in Highsmith, all around forward in Jaquez. They need to get a bench big.

Probably dont worth it for Miami as it's a win now move and they wont be big contenders, but i don't think it's a terrible team at all. Spo has made wonders with similar rosters.