Jun 9, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat president Pat Riley looks on during the second half in game four of the 2023 NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Pat Riley Receives Wrath Of Miami Heat Fans After Kevin Durant Whiff

Originally posted on Miami Heat on SI
By Shandel Richardson | Last updated Jun 22, 2025 3:37 PM ET

Miami Heat team president Pat Riley has been under fire by fan base for the past few years because the inability to land top free agents in the offseason. The Heat haven't signed anyone who has provided productivity since Jimmy Butler in 2019. They added guard Terry Rozier two seasons ago at the trade deadline but he was considered a disappointment.

Things reached a boil Sunday when the Heat failed to acquire Kevin Durant this offseason. Durant was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets.

Kevin Durant 3x
James Harden 2x
Bradley Beal
Damian Lillard
Kyrie Irving 2x
Jrue Holiday
Russell Westbrook

All in a 6 year span but at least we landed Kyle Lowry and Terry Rozier
— Austin (@ChefTrillie) June 22, 2025

Fans immediately shifted the blame to Riley despite him building the organization into a perennial winner in the past 20 years. The dagger for Heat fans was a report stating Riley refused to offer young players like Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez and Nikola Jovic for Durant.

Pat riley has run this franchise into the ground.

He needs to go pic.twitter.com/4VHjTTvVBq
— HeatMuse (@Heat_Muse) June 22, 2025

Without Durant, it means the Heat have to scramble the rest of the summer to provide an upgrade to the roster. After another Play-In Tournament season, they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Pat Riley didn’t want to trade “Haywood Highsmith” for Kevin Durant, yea please have him vanished pic.twitter.com/VbLa245hB0 https://t.co/58JYkzsw7u
— Kyrie Center (@kyriecenterig) June 22, 2025

The Heat could be headed for another year of mediocrity if they are unable to find a high-profile free agent this summer. They have a strong core with Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo but need another star to compete as contenders.