With the NBA Finals in full swing and the start of the offseason approaching, rumors have begun to heat up around the league, and one of the more prominent names that’s been in recent trade rumors is Phoenix Suns star forward Kevin Durant.

NBA insider Jake Fischer came out with a report regarding Durant on Saturday that should have fans of the Miami Heat feeling cautiously optimistic about the chances that he gets dealt to Miami.

“Things are obviously fluid at this stage, but the two teams most frequently cited as potential landing spots for Durant entering Saturday’s business, league sources say, were Minnesota and Miami,” Fischer wrote.

Another report surfaced on Saturday indicating that the Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves aren’t close on a deal. That doesn’t mean a deal between the Heat and Suns is close, but the Wolves report is certainly worth noting.

I know there has been a ton of chatter about the Wolves and KD. I believe, like in February, there is interest. There have been some discussions about deals. But as far as I know, nothing is close. Things can always change quickly, but that’s where I’m at right now.

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Fischer had more details about Miami’s pursuit of Durant.

“Sources say Miami is in legitimate pursuit of Durant again — just as it chased him at the February trade deadline,” Fischer wrote. “The Heat’s offer, in the end, could even prove to be most enticing from the Suns’ perspective.

“Sources say Durant had Miami high on his list of desired trade destinations when he first requested to be dealt by Brooklyn. The Heat, remember, also tried to acquire Durant from Phoenix as part of the teams’ numerous trade conversations about [Jimmy] Butler.

“The Heat can send various starting-level players to Phoenix — Andrew Wiggins and Duncan Robinson stand out as two notables — and have three tradeable first-round picks: No. 20 later this month in addition to first-rounders in 2030 and 2032. Minnesota, by comparison, can only offer the No. 17 pick in this month’s draft to Phoenix.

“Miami’s ultimate willingness to surrender Kel’el Ware, given the Suns’ noted hole at center, could be the true swing factor in the Heat’s Durant pursuit. In February it was clear: Sources say Miami was unwilling at the trade deadline to part with either of its recent first-round draft successes: Ware or Jaime Jacquez Jr. Could that change now after Miami fell so flat in the playoffs with its post-Butler roster?”

The report from Fischer comes not long after Ethan J. Skolnick of Five Reasons Sports indicated that the Heat appear “reluctant” to move Ware in a trade package.

Ware averaged 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game as a rookie in the 2024-25 regular season and earned a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team. He saved some of the best basketball of his maiden season for after the All-Star break as well and displayed considerable growth throughout the course of the season.

The Heat would instantly be better on paper if they acquired Durant, even if they had to give up Ware in such a deal, but it’s hard to argue he would have a better chance at a title with Miami than he would if he joined star guard Anthony Edwards on the Timberwolves.

While the Heat haven’t won a single playoff series over the last two seasons, Minnesota has reached the Western Conference Finals in consecutive seasons and could be a player of Durant’s caliber away from winning its first title in franchise history.

In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Minnesota lost to star guard Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals. More recently, the Oklahoma City Thunder eliminated the Timberwolves in that very same round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.

There’s clearly a real chance Durant will get moved to the Heat, but the Timberwolves certainly stand out as an appealing landing spot for the 36-year-old as well.