Kevin Durant's never-ending trade saga could be nearing a close.
Both the Phoenix Suns and Durant have been mutually working to find a suitable trade partner for this offseason, and plenty of contenders have thrown their hat into the ring to potentially acquire the 15-time All-Star.
With the ambitious goal of rising towards the top of the Eastern Conference in 2025-26, the Miami Heat have long been in the race to land Durant, and recent reports from ESPN's Shams Charania have solidified their position as a top suitor.
The legendary small forward and future Hall of Fame inductee will find a new home in the coming days or weeks, and the Heat could very well be the franchise to welcome him with open arms.
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant (35).
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant (35).
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
"Honestly, the (Houston) Rockets and the Heat are more realistic as of right now than the (San Antonio) Spurs," Charania shared during a Tuesday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.
"Houston, Miami, Minnesota (Timberwolves), a little more motivated."
Charania made sure to get the point across that both the Houston Rockets and Heat are the top candidates to bring Durant aboard, and that they've appeared laser-focused on getting a trade across the finish line.
"What the other teams are offering is just a little bit more aggressive."
The NBA world could have guessed that the Heat would be an uber-aggressive suitor for Durant, as their team president Pat Riley has developed a well-known reputation for pursuing superstar talents through a variety of methods.
If the 2-time NBA Finals MVP were to join the Heat, the franchise could gain notoriety as a true dark-horse championship contender in the Eastern Conference.
A package centered around Andrew Wiggins, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic and even Kel'el Ware may be required to appease the Suns' front office, but Riley might be willing to sacrifice the future for a chance at immediate success.
Though he'll be heading into his 18th NBA season in 2025-26, the 36-year-old Durant has remained one of the league's most dangerous scoring threats.
In 62 appearances with the lowly Suns this season, the 6-foot-11 wing scored 26.6 points on a ridiculously efficient 64.2% true shooting percentage, proving once again that he could likely contribute to a title contender.