The Miami Heat and the Wizard of Washington are on two very different orbits, but both can run with the addition of a Superstar.
After even missed the NBA play-in tournament, the Phoenix Suns are expected to clear the house. Mike Budenholzer has already been fired, Kevin Durant is expected to be traded, and the Suns can even go ahead with Devin Booker and buy Bradley Beer.
The Sands are expected to work with Durant and his camp to find a compatible landing spot for the stars. He only had one season left on the contract and was able to tell the team very easily that he would essentially choose his destination and not sign an extension.
All indications point to the Suns who are trying to target at least three first-round draft picks and quality young players in Durant. Teams like the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves have all appeared as landing spots, but former player and coach Keyon Dooling believes Durant has two dark horse landing spots.
After trading Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat clearly took a step back. But Bam Adebayo was a solid center, Rookie Kel’el Ware showed an elite flash, and Tyler Hero finally made an All-Star Game and took a new step.
Heat has avoided rebuilding ever since Dwyane Wade retired and actually made his appearance in two finals. Pat Riley has made it clear that there are no plans for tanks next season.
“Miami will try to move here to corner the superstar,” Dooly predicted. All smoke. “At one point, Pat Reilly always tries to move and maneuver, especially when Jimmy’s cusp is moving in another direction.”
The heat could offer first round picks for 2029 and 2031, Durant swaps for 2028 Terry Roger, Duncan Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., first round picks. If that’s not enough, they can throw Per Larson into the contract.
By keeping Andrew Wiggins, Herlo and Adebayo, it would be hard to imagine that heat adds scoring superstars to the fold and not included in the mix. Hello shows the flash as a facilitator, but they probably need to add a true point guard.
Durant grew up with awe-a-list for Vince Carter and the Toronto Raptors, but he has been postponed for a long time due to his return to the Washington, D.C. area. He grew up around DMV in Maryland and Virginia, allowing him to end the career he grew up in.
The Washington Wizard has plenty of young talent, and Durant was able to end his career and help his hometown teams eventually start competing again.
“Don’t be surprised if the wizard gets the number one pick. They get the Cooper Flag and KD might go home. That’s a sleeper too,” declared Dooling. “I don’t know where he’s going. I just want him to be in a place where he can hoop and build on his legacy.”
The Wizard has two picks in the 2025 draft and is one pick from the Memphis Grizzlies. Washington can offer three far-away picks for Jordan Pool, Corey Kispert, Sadiq Bey and Durant, but it’s hard to imagine saying goodbye to a 2025 choice.
If the Wizards can add both Flag and Durant to the younger cores of Bilal Coulibaly, Alexandre Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George, they probably won’t be considered for the playoffs yet this season, but they will solidify themselves as a notable team.
However, Durant is not publicly sentimental about his time growing up in the DC area, and will probably not allow trade to the worst team in the league.