Stephen A. Smith Names NBA Team That 'Desperately' Needs Kevin Durant

Stephen A. Smith delivered his assessment of the superstar’s trade market, declaring the Miami Heat needing him more than any other suitor.

“Well, I think the team that desperately needs them more than any of them is the Miami Heat," Smith said. "They really don’t have anything. They need a star. They need somebody that’s a number one option on the offensive side of the ball, bona fide number one option in South Beach. That’s what they need, and that’s what Kevin Durant is.”

Smith went on to note Miami’s strengths.

“Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, obviously the exceptional coaching of Erik Spoelstra, another Hall of Fame-caliber coach," he explained. "They’ve got a lot of pieces, but they don’t have that bona fide, that dude that you can rely upon that can deliver the goods on a night-in, night-out basis offensively. So, they desperately need that, okay?”

The Heat finished 37-45 in 2024-25, their first losing record since the 2018-19 season, managing only a +0.5 net rating (15th) despite ranking eleventh in defensive rating (113.4). Three-time All-Star center Bam Adebayo averaged 18.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game across 78 outings, anchoring Miami’s paint defense. Fellow Kentucky product Tyler Herro, the Heat’s leading scorer, posted 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists over 77 games while shooting 47.2 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from three.

Erik Spoelstra, a two-time NBA champion coach, owns a 787-572 regular season record with six Finals appearances. The Heat also hold the No. 20 pick in this year’s draft, adding a valuable asset to any deal.