Extremely close to Florida clubs, Dan Le Batard thinks the Miami Heat will attempt to acquire NBA legend Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns.
The NBA icon Durant was moved by the Brooklyn Nets to the Suns in 2022–2023 despite the Heat’s best efforts to obtain him.
In five games, the Heat was defeated by the Boston Celtics in the 2024 postseason’s opening round. Due to a knee ailment, All-Star Jimmy Butler was out for the whole series.
Phoenix finished 2023–24 with a 49–33 record, but the Minnesota Timberwolves swept them in the opening round.
“Pat Riley doesn’t have any reason in the world to still be working at his age approaching 80. He’s not going to wait around for another young team to ferment…I have assumed that the next play is going to be…trying to get (Kevin) Durant again. I’ve assumed that’s the move… pic.twitter.com/FrIoH6DC2K
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) July 18, 2024
During the 2023–24 season, Durant averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.2 blocks. The two-time NBA champion’s salary for the upcoming season is $49.9 million.
After just one season, the Suns sacked Frank Vogel and brought in Mike Budenholzer, who with the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Suns to win the 2021 NBA Championship.
With a predicted luxury tax penalty of $116 million, Phoenix has the largest payroll of any NBA team going into the offseason with $209 million in salaries.
NBA reporters Shams Charania and Doug Haller of The Athletic claim that Durant never felt at ease playing with the Suns in 2023–24.
Charania and Haller stated, “In the meantime, Durant, one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, was not always happy with how he was used.” “The Athletic was briefed on the situation and learned that Durant never felt at ease playing alongside Booker and Beal in Phoenix’s offense this season. According to the same sources, Durant was having ongoing problems with the offense. He believed that he was being forced into the corner much too frequently and that the pick-and-roll-heavy strategy did not provide him with enough opportunities to play to his strengths.
“At the same time, some teammates and close associates of the team felt Durant needed to speak with Vogel and his coaching staff more forcefully and directly about his concerns.”
NBA front office insider Bobby Marks of ESPN claims that the Heat made a strong effort to sign DeMar DeRozan. But none of the teams desired Duncan Robinson and his enormous contract. Next season, the guard will earn $19.4 million.
Through a three-team sign-and-trade agreement including the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs, DeRozan became a member of the Sacramento Kings.