The Phoenix Suns ultimately went with the Houston Rockets over the Miami Heat‘s offer for Kevin Durant because it was the best deal put on the table.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Heat failed to surpass or even match the Rockets’ offer in terms of draft capital and a young player.
“The Suns’ trade conversations focused on the Rockets and Heat in recent days, but both teams showed an unwillingness to part with young cornerstones such as Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard (Houston) and Kel’el Ware (Miami) in a Durant deal, sources said. The Heat made multiple offers for Durant but ultimately turned down the opportunity to place Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, the No. 20 pick and other draft assets in a deal, sources said,” Charania wrote.
The Rockets ultimately landed Durant with a package consisting of recent former No. 2 pick Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, this year’s 10th pick in the draft and five second-round picks.
The Suns got a rising star in Green, a high-impact player on Brooks and this year’s 10th overall pick which is 10 picks higher than what the Heat offered. Plus, they also got a haul of second-round picks which could come in handy when they attempt to unload unwanted salaries to get under the second apron.
Heat’s Underwhelming Final Offer
Getty Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat drives against Kevin Durant.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that the Heat’s final offer was Andrew Wiggins, Terry Rozier, two bench players — Jaquez and Smith — and the this year’s 20th pick. Jackson added the Heat declined to include Ware but also did not offer Jovic.
The Heat though offered to take back an unwanted salary from the Suns to make up for the lack of draft capital or young talent. But the Suns were not interested in luxury tax relief at this point.
In fact, the Suns went deeper into the second apron after trading Durant to the Rockets.
Phoenix remains on the second apron with $230 million on payroll, well above the $207.8 million second apron threshold.
The Heat had three tradable first-round picks and two second-round picks, but they only included one first-rounder in their final offer.
In the end, the Suns got the best deal under dire circumstances — Durant on an expiring contract and the leaked preferred team destinations.
Suns to Keep Jalen Green
Contrary to speculations that the Suns will re-route Green, they aren’t and intend to keep him, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports, who foreshadowed the Durant trade a few hours before ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news.
“The Suns do not plan to trade Jalen Green,” Gambadoro reported on X following the trade. “He is expected to play alongside Devin Booker in the backcourt.”
Questions surrounding Green’s future in Phoenix came about after multiple reports pointed to the Suns exploring his trade market leading up to the deal.
The Suns did their due diligence on Green, according to Michael Scotto of Hoopshype.
“Phoenix has done background on Green to gauge his value around the league in case Green is acquired, and it’s worthwhile to flip him again via trade, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote on June 16.
Clutchpoint’s Brett Seigel reported on Friday, June 20, that the Suns have made no progress on Green’s trade market, which could be the reason they are keeping him for now.
Nevertheless, the Suns have to make another move as the trade brings them logjam at the backcourt and wings with Booker, Green, Bradley Beal, Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen, Ryan Dunn and Cody Martin.
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