Whether Kevin Durant makes the Miami Heat an instant title contender is a tricky question to ask. Still, the prospect of Durant in a Heat uniform is intriguing, and considering that Miami is one of the teams on KD’s list of desired trade destinations, it makes the situation all the more interesting. That said, what would Miami have to give up to acquire Durant, and where would a trade of this magnitude leave Miami’s roster? The worst thing Miami can do is give up too much, leaving the team without a playoff-worthy lineup. Amidst all the noise, one player who is reportedly not on the table amid the trade rumors is Heat All-Rookie Kel’el Ware.
Heat Show Faith in All-Rookie Amid Kevin Durant Trade Rumors
Miami Heat will not include Kel’el Ware in Kevin Durant trade as rumors continue to circulate
Two players that the Heat will surely not part with are Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Letting just one of them go doesn’t further Miami’s contention hopes, even with Durant on board. Instead, it decreases their chances, even in a much more open Eastern Conference compared to the West. Miami can’t replicate the mistake the Phoenix Suns made when they acquired Durant—giving up all their draft assets and decimating their roster. No, Pat Riley is too cunning and clever to make that mistake. At the same time, he appears too smart to give up on Ware, as well.
According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Ware is off the table in any trade, including one for Durant. According to Stein and Fischer, Miami is against making Ware part of any offer, considering the All-Rookie second-team center had a solid first season in Miami, and his value with the franchise is high. Miami is built on the foundation of developing young players and player development in general. Ware is seemingly no different, and Miami is intent on keeping him around.
Does Durant make Miami a threat?
Of the teams Durant has an interest in, the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, and the Heat, Miami doesn’t sound like the best destination if Durant wants to win a title. Questions about Durant’s ability to be a number one option have circulated the NBA talk shows and panels this week, and in Miami, he would be the number one option. The Heat have an excellent team culture, top-tier coach, premier front office, and solid players in Bam and Herro, but they’re far from a championship roster, at least as currently constructed.
Durant in town certainly upgrades Miami in the East, but whether it propels them to the top as a contender is another question altogether. There is also the factor that Phoenix is asking for a lot for Durant, and teams have so far been unwilling to comply. That said, the Suns are confident that they’ll have a trade completed by the NBA Draft, which starts next Wednesday, June 25.
Whether Durant goes to South Beach, Texas, or elsewhere, the NBA is nearing what could be the biggest trade of the summer, if not one of them. The offseason has only just begun.
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