Source: Heat Could Pursue Ja Morant, DeMar DeRozan If They Don’t Land Kevin Durant

The Miami Heat are interested in trading for Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, who is open to playing for the Heat. 

Durant, 36, has one year left on his contract. He’s willing to sign an extension with the Heat if he lands in South Beach. 

The San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets are the two other teams Durant wants to play for. The Heat and Rockets, though, have been made aware that the Spurs are Durant’s No. 1 preferred landing spot, a league source told Hoops Wire. 

If Miami doesn’t trade for Durant, the franchise could pursue Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant and Sacramento Kings shooting guard DeMar DeRozan, the source said. 

Morant doesn’t want to leave the Grizzlies, who traded Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks and one first-round pick swap on Father’s Day. 

However, Morant doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he can’t control his future.

The Grizzlies, though, are not planning to trade Morant after moving Bane, the source said. 

DeRozan is a different story. The Kings are open to trading the USC product, the source said. DeRozan will make $24,750,000 next season and $25,740,000 in 2026-27, the final year of his contract. 

The Heat are looking to add more talent around Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro after getting swept in the first round of this year’s playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Miami traded Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors in February after Butler requested a trade. 

The Heat haven’t won a title since 2013. They made the NBA Finals twice (2020, 2023) during the Butler era, losing both times.