The Miami Heat have been trying to sign Kevin Durant for a long time. In 2016, they had a meeting with him before he decided to join the Golden State Warriors. Then, they tried again in 2019 when the two-time Finals MVP left the Bay Area for the Brooklyn Nets.

The Durant to Miami rumors cropped up once again before the recent trade deadline but once again, nothing ended up materialising. This time around, it looks like it was Miami who decided not to make a push even though it is believed that Durant would have been open to playing for the Heat.

According to a report from Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst on ESPN, Durant to Miami was there to be done, and the teams traded proposals. But the Suns were seeking significant compensation for the player and the Heat felt they would be mortgaging their future by going down the path with the 36-year-old didn’t move forward in the talks.

With Tyler Herro finally making the leap that everybody has been waiting for, it looks like the Heat might be ready for a change in direction. Herro and Bam Adebayo might very well be the dual faces of the franchise moving forward. On the other hand, they did land a pretty decent return from the Jimmy Butler trade, considering the difficult circumstances they had found themselves in leading up to the trade deadline. The Heat ended up receiving Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, P. J. Tucker and a 2025 first-round pick (protected, Warriors).

Butler ended up getting what he wanted as well. While he did not end up on the Suns, he joined the Golden State Warriors and agreed a two-year contract extension with them. The Warriors are 2-0 since the arrival of Butler, as it looks like his combination with Stephen Curry has breathed new life into their faltering season.