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Kevin Durant Linked to Major East Contender Who Lost a Superstar This Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated May 11, 2025 3:15 PM ET

The Phoenix Suns could trade Kevin Durant this summer after missing the playoffs in 2024-25. Durant, 36, has one year left on his contract. The future Hall of Famer was nearly traded to the Golden State Warriors at the February trade deadline.

A two-time Finals MVP, Durant doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he can't control where he gets traded if the Suns decide to move him.

Durant has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. He hasn't been back to the NBA Finals since leaving Golden State for Brooklyn in the summer of 2019.

According to Five Reasons Sports, Durant is open to getting traded to the Miami Heat this offseason. The Heat, who traded Jimmy Butler to the Warriors in February after the small forward requested a trade, are interested in trading for Durant, according to the report.

Everything I’ve heard is there is mutual interest between the Heat and KD. That doesn’t mean a trade gets done; but that’s one superstar (he still is) who hasn’t crossed the Heat off his list because of aversion to their “culture.”
— Five Reasons Sports ⚾️⚽️ (@5ReasonsSports) May 10, 2025

The Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Heat in the first round of this year's playoffs. Miami president Pat Riley told local reporters at his end-of-the-season press conference that there will be changes to the roster this offseason.

Durant appeared in 62 games for the Suns this season. He averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 52.7 percent from the field, 43.0 percent from beyond the arc and 83.9 percent from the free-throw line.

A four-time scoring champion, Durant turns 37 on Sept. 29. He was teammates with Heat All-Star big man Bam Adebayo on the 2020 and 2024 U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball Team.

Durant will make $54.7 million next season. He has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists.

The Heat haven't won a championship since 2013. They reached the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023 with Butler and Adebayo, but lost both times.

It will be fascinating to see if Riley can acquire Durant this summer. Durant is represented by Roc Nation Sports.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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