Before he had been obtained by the Houston Rockets in a pre-NBA draft blockbuster trade, two-time Finals MVP power forward Kevin Durant had many suitors.
The Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves were the supposed other finalists for the 6-foot-11 superstar's services, but the Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets all got into the mix, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Now, one of the supposed sticking points that prevented a Durant-to-Miami deal from happening is on the move from the Heat — for a miniscule return haul.
Per Charania, Miami forward Haywood Highsmith and a 2023 second-rounder are being moved to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for a protected 2026 second-round selection, in a cost-cutting move for the Heat.
The Miami Heat have traded Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for a protected 2026 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ilO1dBStWw
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 15, 2025
Highsmith is on an expiring $5.6 million deal, and can be absorbed into Brooklyn's available cap room.
Per Charania, the pick will be protected from Nos. 31-55, meaning it will only convey to the Heat if it lands between Nos. 56-60. Essentially, then, Miami is sacrificing a pick to get off Highsmith's money.
Heat shed Highsmith's salary to lessen their salary bill. Nets send Miami a 2026 second-rounder that is protected 31-55.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 15, 2025
Shockingly, Charania himself had also reported earlier this summer that Highsmith had been a deal breaker in the Phoenix Suns' trade negotiations with the Heat for a potential Kevin Durant exchange, prior to the Rockets' acquisition of the 15-time All-Star.
According to Charania, Miami refused to include young bench players like Highsmith, small forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., or power forward Nikola Jovic as part of a possible Phoenix return haul for Durant. The Heat also would not include starting center Kel'el Ware, the No. 20 pick in this year's draft, or other significant draft equity.
Miami not including Ware makes at least a bit more sense, as Ware emerged at the end of the 2024-25 season as a rim-rolling double-double machine and, despite his awkward offensive fit alongside All-Star big man Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt, has massive upside even while on a team-controlled rookie-scale salary. But why the Heat wouldn't even want to throw in a first-round draft pick or more fringe rotation pieces like Highsmith and the others was a head-scratcher.
Heat sources, possibly in an effort to save face, claimed that Highsmith and Jaquez actually were part of Miami's final offer, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. That proposed deal included the No. 20 pick in the 2025 draft, one-time All-Star forward Andrew Wiggins, embattled point guard Terry Rozier, Jaquez and Highsmith.
Considering how little draft equity was being included, the idea that Miami may have balked at throwing in even Jovic or Ware (better players than Highsmith or Jaquez last season) speaks to the fact that the team just may not have been seriously interested in adding Durant to its current core of fringe All-Stars Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.
Kevin Durant, even at age 36, is better than Adebayo or Herro, and in an injury-depleted Eastern Conference could have easily vaulted Miami back into contention had he stayed healthy. Instead, the Heat decided against bringing in one of the league's best-ever scorers and shooters, and are now ditching draft picks to get off players they pretended they cared too much about to include in a Durant deal.
Miami's loss is Houston's gain, however. Durant joins a 52-30 squad that also brought in 3-and-D combo forward Dorian Finney-Smith, rim-rolling center Clint Capela, and defense-first shooting guard Josh Okogie via free agency.
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