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Kevin Durant Predicted To Join Forces With $165 Million East All-Star

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated May 8, 2025 2:12 PM ET

Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns are expected to work together on a trade this summer after missing the playoffs this year and one NBA analyst thinks a team with a $165 million All-Star will trade for the future Hall of Famer.

Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Suns this season in 62 games while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from 3 and 83.9% from the free-throw line. He turns 37 in the fall and has one year left on his contract.

Phoenix almost traded Durant at the February trade deadline. Most NBA observers believe the forward will be moved this summer and Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report predicts that the Miami Heat will acquire Durant.

"With Minnesota still alive in the playoffs and Miami swept out in the first round, the Heat should already be placing calls to new Suns general manager Brian Gregory about acquiring Durant. Prediction: Durant is traded to the Heat," Swartz wrote.

Durant will make $54.7 million next season. If he gets traded to the Heat, he would join forces with All-Star big man Bam Adebayo, who signed a three-year, $165 million extension last summer.

The Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Heat in the first round of this year's playoffs. It's pretty evident that Pat Riley needs to upgrade the roster around Adebayo, which is why Swartz thinks Miami will trade for Durant this summer.

A two-time champion, Durant has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. He doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract, so Phoenix can trade him anywhere if the front office decides to end the KD era.

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

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