The Houston Rockets pulled off one of the biggest moves of the NBA offseason by landing Kevin Durant in a blockbuster deal with the Phoenix Suns.
After weeks of negotiations involving multiple franchises, the Suns eventually focused their attention on two serious suitors.
The Miami Heat remained in heavy pursuit until the final moments, but Houston managed to close the deal.
The trade left many wondering what went wrong for Miami in their pursuit of the two-time Finals MVP.
ESPN’s Shams Charania provided those answers during his recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“It was really just the Heat and the Rockets, really bidding, going back and forth and negotiating, both really wanted to get Kevin Durant in the fold. But at the end of the day, from Miami’s end, they would have had to give up either Kel’el Ware or a combination of several different players. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, the number 20th overall pick, and a potential pick swap. All of those things needed to be in the deal for Miami unless they were going to give up Kel’el Ware, which they weren’t gonna do. He’s their young, prized prospect after a great rookie year. They did not want to trade him. Essentially, he was left off the table, in any conversation.”
"At the end of the day Miami didn't want to give the Suns what they wanted for Kevin Durant..
They weren't gonna give up Kel'el Ware and he was left off the table in any conversation" @ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/8GQh2c6EfU
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 23, 2025
The breakdown reveals Miami’s unwillingness to part with their cornerstone young talent.
Ware emerged as their most promising rookie last season and represents a crucial piece of their future foundation.
Looking ahead to the 2025-26 campaign, the Heat’s ceiling remains relatively unchanged.
Their core featuring Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Kel’el Ware, and Andrew Wiggins projects to land somewhere between seventh and tenth in the Eastern Conference standings.
That positioning could secure a play-in tournament berth with potential for a playoff series win if the roster meshes properly come April.
Missing Durant certainly stings, but the decision to protect their young assets may prove wise long term.
Miami chose patience over immediate gratification. Even with Durant, this roster lacked the depth necessary for a legitimate championship run.
Trading away future pieces for a short-term boost without title guarantees would have created more problems than solutions.
NEXT: Heat Takes Firm Stance About Trading Standout Big Man To Suns