The Phoenix Suns‘ bid to acquire a center as part of the Kevin Durant trade package hit a roadblock as the Miami Heat remain firm in their stance on 7-footer Kel’el Ware.
According to Clutchpoints’ Brett Seigel, Ware is the player the Suns wanted in Durant deal with the Heat.
“Although the two sides are not right at the finish line yet in trade talks, one player can get them there,” Seigel wrote. “That would be Kel’el Ware, a rookie standout in Miami’s frontcourt who is a giant with his 7-foot-4 wingspan and two-way potential. If the Heat include Ware in a revamped package to what they have already offered, talks with the Suns will reach a whole new level, as he is the player Phoenix wants in discussions with Miami.”
However, the Heat aren’t budging, Jake Fischer of “The Stein Line” reported late Friday night.
“Miami is said to be firmly against including standout rookie center Kel’el Ware in their offers for Durant, sources say,” Fischer wrote.
The Heat have long been discussed in league circles as the frontrunners not only because they are one of Durant’s preferred teams, but also because of Ware, which the Suns covet.
“This is why many around the league who spoke with ClutchPoints view the Heat as the team that can get over the finish line the easiest,” Siegel wrote.
The 7-foot Ware was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 9.3 points on 55.4% shooting and 7.4 rebounds in 22.2 minutes.
Suns’ Ultimatum to Heat
Getty Kel’el Ware was named as the “swing” piece for the Miami Heat in the Kevin Durant trade talks.
But with the Heat unwilling to surrender Ware, the Suns are ready to move on.
“If Pat Riley and his front office don’t push more chips in to get Durant, a player Riley has wanted to bring to South Beach for years, they will be out, and the Suns will further their talks with the other teams interested,” Seigel wrote.
Aside from the Heat, the other teams interested in Durant who have a center are the Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Seigel reported the Raptors’ offer included Poeltl and another starter. But the Suns prefer Ware.
“Even though the Raptors’ offer of either RJ Barrett or Immanuel Quickley alongside potentially Jakob Poeltl and draft picks is enticing, it is the [Miami] Heat that league personnel are signaling as the team with a better chance at a deal,” Siegel wrote.
Timberwolves’ Stance
GettyJulius Randle, Anthony Edwards, and Rudy Gobert during Game 4 of the West Semifinals between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors on May 12, 2025.
On the other hand, the Timberwolves could be the frontunner only if Durant wants to play in Minnesota.
According to Sam Amick and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, the Timberwolves have the bigs which fit the Suns’ need.
“The Wolves would seem to have options available to offer, with Rudy Gobert or Julius Randle headlining a package that could give the Suns hopes of contending,” Amick and Krawczynski wrote.
Gobert is a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, a three-time All-Star and All-NBA center. Randle is a three-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA forward who can also play as small-ball center in a pinch.
Unfortunately, the Timberwolves are not willing to go all in unless Durant changes his mind on not extending if he’s traded to Minnesota.
“I’m told Durant has no desire to be in Minnesota with the Timberwolves,” ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported on SportsCenter on June 16.
Durant has one year and $54.7 million left in his current four-year, $190 million contract. He can sign a two-year, $112 million extension wherever he lands next. If he waits six months after the trade, he could fetch more — $124 million over two years, according to Charania.
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