The Miami Heat made waves recently with the trade of Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors. However, the deal wasn’t the only headline surrounding the Heat at the time. There was growing speculation about Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant potentially being traded, as the Suns were seen as strong contenders to land Butler.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne reported that Durant was “open” to joining the Miami Heat. Sources shared that Miami considered bypassing the Warriors entirely and negotiating a direct deal with the Suns, sending Butler to Phoenix in exchange for Durant.
“Durant, however, would have been open to playing for the Heat. So Miami debated cutting the Warriors out completely and dealing Butler to Phoenix for Durant, sources said. Riley, after all, had wanted Durant for years,” Windhorst and Shelburne wrote.
Kevin Durant was reportedly ‘open’ to joining the Heat instead of the Warriors, per @ramonashelburne & @WindhorstESPN pic.twitter.com/MmblFjGrQI
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 8, 2025
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Warriors initially had their sights set on Durant, who had won two championships with them in the past. The Warriors proposed a hefty package, which included Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga, first-round picks, second-round picks, and pick swaps, all in exchange for Durant. However, the trade fell apart when Durant made it clear he had no interest in returning to Golden State.
Suns GM Defends Kevin Durant Amid Trade Rumors And Frustrations
Kevin Durant has reportedly become increasingly frustrated with the trade speculation surrounding him. General Manager James Jones recently spoke out, stating the stress Durant has been under due to these distractions.
“I would be frustrated too if we weren’t winning and a lot of the blame, a lot of the noise was around me. I know Kevin understands that. He’s just like everyone else. But he’s hooping, and he’s a pro. And he’s been above it his entire career. So he knows where we stand. He’s pivotal for us, he’s one of our leaders, he’s our All-Star,” James Jones said.
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Durant has been a member of the Suns since the 2022-23 season. But despite his high-profile addition, the team has yet to capture an NBA title. Still, the organization remains fully committed to building around him and Devin Booker.
