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Category: Heat

Latest Miami Heat Rumors and News.

  • Heat’s Kevin Love Mourns Passing of Father, Former NBA Player Stan Love

    Heat’s Kevin Love Mourns Passing of Father, Former NBA Player Stan Love

    Miami Heat veteran Kevin Love is grieving the loss of his father, Stan Love, a former NBA forward and proud supporter throughout Kevin’s career. Stan passed away following a long illness, the family announced Sunday.

    In an emotional Instagram post, Kevin Love reflected on the bond he shared with his father and the difficult final months.

    “Dad, you fought for a long time,” Love wrote. “The hardest stretch being these past 6 months. The most painful to witness being these last few weeks. And even at the end as you continued to deteriorate — I still saw you as a Giant. My Protector. My first Hero.”

    Love shared that Stan’s final wish was to be at home, surrounded by family. “That breath came. And now it’s time to rest,” he wrote.

    The tribute sparked a wave of condolences and support from the NBA community.

    The Heat responded with a heart emoji.

    Former teammate Meyers Leonard called the post “so emotional, so real,” and praised Love’s courage.

    Four-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins and NBA legend Steve Nash were among many players to offer condolences.

    Stan Love, 75, carved out his own path in basketball long before his son reached NBA stardom. Selected No. 9 overall by the Baltimore Bullets in 1971, the 6-foot-9 forward later played for the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs during the ABA era, averaging 6.8 points and 4.0 rebounds over his career.

    He was also part of a famous family outside of basketball, as the brother of Beach Boys lead singer Mike Love.

    Kevin Love, 36, has long been one of the NBA’s most vocal advocates for mental health awareness, opening up about his struggles with anxiety and depression. His heartfelt tribute offers a glimpse into the personal loss he’s now facing — one that cuts deeper than any game.

    The NBA world is rallying behind him.

    Love has not been with the Heat during their first-round series vs. the Cavaliers. Miami trails, 3-0.

  • Heat’s Tyler Herro: Don’t Care What Cavs’ Darius Garland Thinks Of My Defense

    Heat’s Tyler Herro: Don’t Care What Cavs’ Darius Garland Thinks Of My Defense

    Cavaliers guard Darius Garland called out Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro by name when asked about Cleveland’s plan of attack.Tyler Herro, Heat, Darius Garland, Cavaliers, Cavs, NBA Playoffs

    In case you missed it, Garland said that the Cavs should seek out Herro and “pick on” him when they have the ball in their first-round playoff series. Herro is an amazing scorer — but his defense leaves plenty to be desired. 

    But Herro insists he was not impacted by Garland’s so-called hot take. More specifically, Herro indicated he doesn’t care what Garland has to say and that he “has enough fuel for this series regardless,” per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

    Cleveland leads the series, 2-0. Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Miami (1 p.m. EST, TNT).

    The Cavs won Game 2 by a final score of 121-112, right after winning Game 1 by a 121-100 count. In Game 2, the Cavaliers were up by 19 points in the second half. The Heat cut the lead to 103-101 with 3:11 to go in the fourth quarter before Donovan Mitchell took over. 

    Mitchell, who had 30 points in Game 2, scored 17 points in the fourth quarter. 

    “I’ve worked really hard to be in those moments,” Mitchell said. “You’re fatigued or whatever, but you put your head down and get to the spots. … I love the fact that the game happened like this. I’d much rather this than win by 20. Especially going into an environment like we are in a few days. We had to really find a way as a group.”

    Ashish Mathur contributed to this report.

  • NBA Trade Idea Sends Trae Young To Heat

    NBA Trade Idea Sends Trae Young To Heat

    One NBA analyst proposed that the Miami Heat acquire Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks this offseason. 

    Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Heat and Hawks: 

    Atlanta Hawks receive: Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jović, Pelle Larsson, 2025 No. 20 (Golden State Warriors), Miami 2030 protected first-rounder, $19.4 million trade exception

    Miami Heat receive: Trae Young

    Young averaged 24.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 11.6 assists for the Hawks this season while shooting 41.1% from the field, 34.0% from beyond the arc and 87.5% from the free-throw line.

    A four-time All-Star, Young will make $45,999,660 next season. He has a player option worth $48,967,380 for the 2026-27 season. 

    “The Heat have two big men who can help protect the paint in Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware,” Pincus wrote. “Andrew Wiggins is still a solid wing with defensive chops. The All-Star backcourt of Young and Herro would be difficult for teams to deal with but would present defensive issues for coach Erik Spoelstra.

    “If Young is the best veteran star Miami can add this summer, would the team balk at the price? Young would expect a new, long-term extension, with Miami investing heavily in the threesome (with Herro and Adebayo). Wiggins’ salary expires after 2026-27 (assuming he opts in at $30.2 million), but he and Kyle Anderson could be other players Miami looks to relocate.”

    Young led the Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. He has career averages of 25.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 9.8 assists. 

    Atlanta fired general manager Landry Fields after losing to the Heat in the play-in tournament. 

    Miami is currently down 2-0 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. 

    “The risk for Miami would be on the offensive firepower vs. the defensive liability pairing of Young and Herro, and how much the bigs can offset those issues,” Pincus wrote. “It’s not a no-brainer, but the talent upgrade may be hard to argue against, provided the Heat believe Young is an answer to the team’s missing offensive firepower.”

  • Darius Garland Says Cavs Have To ‘Pick On Tyler Herro’ To Avoid Turnovers

    Darius Garland Says Cavs Have To ‘Pick On Tyler Herro’ To Avoid Turnovers

    After the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Miami Heat in Game 2 on Wednesday, Darius Garland took a shot at Tyler Herro. 

    Garland said the Cavaliers have to “pick on Herro” to avoid turnovers. 

    The Cavaliers are up 2-0 against the Heat. Herro is a talented scorer, but he’s the weakest defender in Miami’s starting lineup. 

    Cleveland won Game 2 by a final score of 121-112. Kenny Atkinson’s group almost blew the game. The Cavaliers were up by 19 points at one point. The Heat cut the lead to two in the fourth quarter before Donovan Mitchell took over. 

    Mitchell, who had 30 points in Game 2, scored 17 points in the fourth quarter. 

    “I’ve worked really hard to be in those moments,” Mitchell said. “You’re fatigued or whatever, but you put your head down and get to the spots. … I love the fact that the game happened like this. I’d much rather this than win by 20. Especially going into an environment like we are in a few days. We had to really find a way as a group.”

    The Cavaliers will look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead against the Heat in Game 3 down in Miami. 

  • NBA Trade Idea Sends Kevin Durant To Heat In Offseason

    NBA Trade Idea Sends Kevin Durant To Heat In Offseason

    One NBA writer proposed that the Miami Heat trade for Phoenix Suns star small forward Kevin Durant this offseason. 

    Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Heat and Suns: 

    Miami Heat Receive: F Kevin Durant

    Phoenix Suns Receive: F/C Kel’el Ware, F Duncan Robinson, G Terry Rozier, 2025 first-round pick (via Golden State Warriors), 2030 first-round pick (top-five protected via Miami Heat)

    The Suns, who missed the playoffs this year and fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after one season, are expected to trade Durant this offseason. Durant turns 37 in the fall. He has one year left on his contract. 

    “The Heat and Suns talked about a Durant trade at the deadline and president Pat Riley has wanted the 15-time All-Star for the past decade according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst,” Swartz wrote. “With Jimmy Butler gone, Miami needs another star forward to complement its core of Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, especially with an offense that ranked just 21st overall this season. Durant should like the idea of moving back to the Eastern Conference and joining a team with two All-Stars in their mid-20s while playing for one of the best coaches in the league in Erik Spoelstra. Durant and Spoelstra won an Olympic Gold Medal together with team USA last summer.”

    Durant appeared in 62 games for the Suns this season. The 15-time All-Star averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from 3 and 83.9% from the free-throw line. 

    Durant doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, but the Suns and the NBA legend are expected to work together on a trade this offseason. 

    “A Durant trade is inevitable,” Swartz wrote. “The Suns should be looking for packages that include win-now veterans, draft picks and promising young big men to pair with Devin Booker and keep the All-Star shooting guard happy in Phoenix.”

    Durant has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. He’s a two-time champion and a two-time Finals MVP.

  • Report: Timberwolves, Knicks, Heat, Spurs Rank As Most Frequently Cited Potential Kevin Durant Trade Suitors

    Report: Timberwolves, Knicks, Heat, Spurs Rank As Most Frequently Cited Potential Kevin Durant Trade Suitors

    According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs rank as the most frequently cited potential Kevin Durant trade suitors.

    The Phoenix Suns are expected to trade Durant this offseason. 

    “Minnesota, New York, Miami and San Antonio rank as the most frequently cited potential Durant suitors,” Stein wrote. “League sources, in particular, have been pinpointing the Timberwolves and Knicks depending on how their postseasons play out.”

    The Timberwolves, Knicks and Heat are in the 2025 playoffs, while the Spurs missed the postseason again. San Antonio acquired De’Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings and has Victor Wembanyama.

    Durant has one year left on his contract. The NBA legend and the Suns are expected to work together on a trade this offseason. 

    One of the best scorers in NBA history, Durant is still an elite player despite being 36. He averaged 26.6 points this season while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line. 

    The Suns went only 36-46 this season despite having Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Mike Budenholzer was fired as head coach after one season, just like Frank Vogel was canned in the summer of 2024 after one year in the desert. 

    Durant has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. He’s one of the most decorated players in NBA history. The Texas product has made 15 All-Star teams and 11 All-NBA teams. He’s a two-time champion, a two-time Finals MVP, a one-time MVP and a four-time scoring champion. 

    “Kevin Durant is a top-three name in this league,” one high-ranking NBA official told ESPN. “I can see a team who’d love to have him for a season just to sell tickets.”

    Durant has won only two postseason series since leaving the Warriors in 2019. He’s been swept in the first round twice. 

  • Dwyane Wade Says He, LeBron James, Chris Bosh Were Not First Superteam In NBA History: ‘The League Has Had That Throughout’

    Dwyane Wade Says He, LeBron James, Chris Bosh Were Not First Superteam In NBA History: ‘The League Has Had That Throughout’

    Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade says he, LeBron James and Chris Bosh were not the first superteam in NBA history. 

    James and Bosh joined Wade on the Heat in the summer of 2010. 

    “Not responsible for a superteam,” Wade told NBA reporter Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “Maybe responsible for players getting together and making a decision. I don’t know what was done that preceded us. We definitely watched Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman. We definitely watched Magic Johnson play with many great Hall of Fame players. We watched Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, and so forth. We’ve seen it before.

    “I think we did it in the time of social media and in a time that normally, from what it looked like from afar, organizations were the ones making the trades and the moves to bring these superteams together. We did it at a time when it was controversial because it was players deciding to do it in the middle of their primes. You see guys getting together a little older sometimes.”

    The Heat went to four straight NBA Finals in the Wade-James-Bosh era. They won the title in 2012 and 2013. 

    James won two MVPs and two Finals MVPs with the Heat before going back to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2014. 

    “You feel responsible for players understanding their power,” Wade said. “Even though I’m on this side of it now, I still love to see players understand their power. How you utilize it is on you when it comes to good or bad, but at least you understand it. I didn’t understand that we had any power when I first came in. The organizations usually did all the things, and you just hope for the best. We kind of changed that a little bit in this generation, but I can’t say we were the first ones to do that. I don’t feel responsible for superteams. The league has had that throughout.”

  • Kevin Love Leaves Heat Amid Ongoing Family Reasons

    Kevin Love Leaves Heat Amid Ongoing Family Reasons

    According to NBA reporter Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel, Kevin Love has left the Miami Heat amid ongoing family reasons. 

    The Heat play the Atlanta Hawks on Friday to determine who will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 2025 playoffs. 

    Love hasn’t played since March 7. The five-time All-Star has appeared in 23 games this season. He’s averaging 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 35.7% from the field, 35.8% from beyond the arc and 69.6% from the free-throw line. 

    Love is in his third season with the Heat. He joined the franchise in 2023 after leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers, the franchise he won the 2016 championship with.  

    Love appeared in 489 games with the Cavaliers. He averaged 15.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists and made two All-Star teams. 

    Cleveland will retire Love’s No. 0 jersey when the veteran ends his NBA career. The Cavaliers will hang Love’s No. 0 jersey next to Nick Gilbert’s banner. 

    Last season, the Cavaliers paid tribute to Nick, the late son of owner Dan Gilbert, by raising a banner to the rafters at Rocket Arena. Nick passed away at 26. He had neurofibromatosis (NF1), a disorder that causes noncancerous tumors to grow on the brain, spinal cord and skin. There is no cure.

    “One of the things I spoke about with ownership, I said if it is me, I’d be honored to go up next to him in the rafters,” Love said. “We’ll all be pretty close, so yeah, I might be the first one.”

    A UCLA product, Love has career averages of 16.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Miami Heat. He’s made five All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams. 

    Love won the 2010-11 Most Improved Player of the Year Award with the Timberwolves. 

    “I have so much love for that organization and city and Ohio,” Love said. “When you go on a Finals run with special players, that will always be a part of you. I’ll probably go home and look at my ring and reflect a little bit.”

  • Cavs To Face Either Hawks Or Heat In First Round Of Playoffs

    Cavs To Face Either Hawks Or Heat In First Round Of Playoffs

    And then there were two. Thanks to the Miami Heat’s play-in road win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, the Cavs have a better idea of who they’ll face in the first round of the NBA playoffs.Caris LeVert, Hawks, Heat, Cavs, NBA

    That would be either the Heat or the Atlanta Hawks, who face off Friday night in Atlanta. The winner gets the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference — and the top-seeded Cavs.

    Game 1 is Sunday at the Rocket Arena (7 p.m. EST).

    Miami was hardly challenged against Chicago, building a massive lead and then only relenting briefly in the third quarter. That’s not necessarily a huge surprise, despite the fact the Bulls were playing at home.

    Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is just a master at this time of year. That should scare the Hawks more than the Cavs, though. Cleveland is just deeper and overall more talented.

    We may be saying the same about the Hawks after Friday. When it comes to the Hawks and the Heat, though, it’s anyone’s guess. 

    On Wednesday, Tyler Herro led the Heat by erupting for 38 points. That included 8-of-8 shooting in the first half. He finished 13-of-19 from the field and 9-of-10 on free throws.

    Former Cavs No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins played an excellent game, particularly defensively, and scored 20 points. Bam Adebayo added 15. Davion Mitchell also had 15 on 5-of-5 from the field.

    The Hawks lost on the road to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, giving the Magic the No. 7 seed and a first-round matchup with the defending champion (and second-seeded) Boston Celtics.

    Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson discussed the playoffs, and his team’s chances, last week.

    “The talent level is obvious,” he said. “Now, do they have the belief at a championship level? Do you really believe you can beat Boston? Do you really believe you can beat Indiana? Do you really believe you can be a conference finalist?

    “That’s a first step. We can only answer that when we’re faced with it. That’s probably the lingering question. As far as talent, chemistry, deep bench, we’ve got it all. So it’s really going to be the mental, to believe we can go to that next level.”

  • Dwyane Wade Opens Up About Jimmy Butler’s Breakup With Heat: ‘There Has To Be A Better Way That We Can Handle Things’

    Dwyane Wade Opens Up About Jimmy Butler’s Breakup With Heat: ‘There Has To Be A Better Way That We Can Handle Things’

    NBA legend Dwyane Wade opened up about Jimmy Butler‘s breakup with the Miami Heat. 

    Butler requested a trade from the Heat and was traded to the Golden State Warriors. 

    Wade, the best player in Miami franchise history, wasn’t happy with how the Butler era ended in South Beach. 

    “Well, the one thing I’ve realized is don’t go around planting blame on somebody when you really don’t know what’s going on,” Dwyane Wade said, via The Miami Herald. “I wasn’t in the room where it happened, so I don’t know and I’m not into pointing fingers necessarily. … What I don’t like more than anything is just the stain it puts on our franchise. We have one of the greatest franchises for the last 20, 30 years that’s in professional sports. We don’t want the conversation to be about that, we want it to be about the success that we’ve had and how we’ve created that success. So it was a very unfortunate time.”

    Butler’s relationship with Heat president Pat Riley went from great to terrible.

    Butler, who led Miami to the NBA Finals twice, was suspended three times this season. 

    “You understand that relationships come to an end,” Wade said. “A six-year relationship is a long time for a lot of people. So it’s OK that their relationship needed to come to an end. It’s just sometimes it doesn’t always have to be so nasty or ugly. I just wanted to make sure that I voiced my opinion.

    “I knew there was smoke. I think I was very clear with my message when I had the time to speak during my statue moment. That was a moment that was about me and I took the moment to talk to the team, and tell them who Pat Riley is and who this organization is. And I knew if everything did not get on the right line, some [stuff] was going to go down. I felt that at that time and that’s why I said that message. Everybody wasn’t in attendance, but the message went out loud. I had a feeling because I knew enough and obviously I have relationships. Ultimately, the relationship needed to end, which it did. It’s just sometimes there has to be a better way that we can handle things, whether it’s the player or our front office. We just got to do a better job because this is a part of our history.”

  • Heat, Nuggets could be among teams interested in Suns’ Bradley Beal this offseason

    Heat, Nuggets could be among teams interested in Suns’ Bradley Beal this offseason

    Veteran guard Bradley Beal is expected to be among those made available by the Suns this offseason as the Suns seem headed for a shakeup, per John Gamabadoro of Arizona Sports.Bradley Beal, Suns, NBA

    The Warriors and Spurs could also have an interest, Gambadoro added.

    Phoenix is coming off a disappointing season of missing the postseason entirely, and Beal has expressed that he’s aware changes could be coming.

    “It doesn’t bother me, man,” Beal told reporters of the trade rumors after the Suns’ 108-98 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. “Everybody’s going to have an opinion about something. … You’re entitled to it, but nobody knows what happens internally.”

    Beal, 30, remains under contract through at least the 2025-26 season, with a $57.1 million player option in 2026-27. But with Phoenix falling well short of expectations and locked into the NBA’s second tax apron, questions have mounted about whether the Suns can — or will — move forward with their current core intact.

    Team owner Mat Ishbia is expected to push for changes this offseason. According to Beal, the players are well aware.

    “Nobody’s probably more pissed off than we are as a team,” he said. “But we know Mat is going to demand some changes, so we just got to be ready to hear what he wants to do.”

    Beal has been a fixture in trade speculation since arriving in Phoenix via a high-profile deal in June 2023. However, any hypothetical move is complicated. Beal holds a rare no-trade clause — one of just a handful in the NBA — and cannot be waived-and-stretched due to the size of his salary under the league’s cap structure.

    According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Beal’s stretch figure would exceed the league’s 15% cap threshold, making such a maneuver nonviable unless the guard agreed to a significant buyout — something that would require mutual interest and financial compromise.

    For Beal, the season again never fully stabilized. He appeared in just 53 of the team’s 81 games to date, often battling injuries and struggling to find a rhythm alongside fellow stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

    “It definitely wasn’t ideal for what everybody envisioned,” Beal said. “It was another injury-plagued year for me a little bit.”

    Beal acknowledged that his availability — or lack thereof — played a role in the team’s underwhelming 36-45 record entering Sunday’s finale.

     

  • NBA Notes: Heat, Tyler Herro, Sixers, Tyrese Maxey, Rockets

    NBA Notes: Heat, Tyler Herro, Sixers, Tyrese Maxey, Rockets

    Heat

    The Heat have made NBA history for an unusual reason, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.NBA, Miami Heat, Tyler Herro

    Wednesday’s 114-98 road victory over the Celtics extended the Heat’s winning streak to six games, each by double digits. Miami became the first team in NBA history to achieve such a feat immediately following a losing streak of at least 10 games.

    “We’re just trying to take care of our business and continue to play well, compete hard, and maintain the connectivity that’s growing as the season progresses,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Our locker room is alive. It’s been alive even when we were losing games, just waiting for this opportunity to compete, have these games matter, and grow together through all of this.”

    The win also ended Boston’s nine-game winning streak, while the Heat snapped a six-game regular-season losing streak against the defending champions.

    • In other news, Heat president Pat Riley challenged his players to prioritize availability in the offseason following last year’s campaign. Tyler Herro, who posted 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds, two steals, and zero turnovers against Boston, embraced that message.
    • The first-time All-Star has appeared in a career-high 73 games this season. “It feels really good, it’s meaningful,” Herro told reporters. “My goal was to only miss four games. So I’m there, hopefully. I’ve just got to keep playing, getting treatment, staying healthy, and playing as many games as possible. I’ve never been a guy who wants to sit out.”

    76ers

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a finger tendon injury, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

    Maxey has not played since March 3 as he continues to struggle with discomfort in the injured finger despite attempting rehabilitation. The 76ers have already ruled out other star players, including Joel Embiid and Paul George, for the rest of the season.

    Maxey, who has started 52 games this year, has been putting up career-high numbers, averaging 26.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game.

    The 23-year-old was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player last season and subsequently signed a five-year, maximum-salary contract during the offseason. In 2023-24, Maxey averaged 25.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 37.5 minutes per game across 70 starts.

    Rockets

    Rockets forward Dillon Brooks has been assessed his 16th technical foul of the 2024-25 season after an incident during Wednesday’s game against the Jazz, as relayed by Bleacher Report.

    The NBA has confirmed that Brooks will be suspended for one game without pay, set to serve the suspension tomorrow against the Thunder. Per league rules, a 16th technical foul results in an automatic one-game suspension unless the NBA rescinds the call.

    The incident occurred when Jazz guard Collin Sexton was defending Brooks as the Rockets wing pivoted into the post. Brooks leapt and appeared to drop the ball in an attempt to sell a foul call, inadvertently kicking Sexton in a sensitive area.

    At 49-27, the Rockets currently hold a slim lead over the No. 3 Nuggets, who trail by just two games. The No. 4 Lakers are 2.5 games behind, with the Warriors (44-31) and Grizzlies (44-32) also in close pursuit.

    With six games remaining in the regular season, the Rockets face an uphill battle to secure their playoff positioning.

    When not involved in controversial fouls, Brooks remains a key contributor for Houston. The 29-year-old, who was named to the 2023 All-Defensive Team, is averaging 13.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.8 steals per game across 72 contests, shooting .422 from the field, .395 from beyond the arc, and .824 from the free-throw line.

  • Report: Kevin Durant was open to getting traded to Timberwolves, Knicks, Rockets, Heat, Spurs at trade deadline

    Report: Kevin Durant was open to getting traded to Timberwolves, Knicks, Rockets, Heat, Spurs at trade deadline

    According to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, Kevin Durant was open to getting traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat or San Antonio Spurs at the trade deadline. 

    Durant remained with the Phoenix Suns, who had a deal in place to send KD to the Golden State Warriors before the future Hall of Famer blocked it because he didn’t want to return to the Warriors. 

    Durant will make $54.7 million next season in the final year of his contract. He has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. 

    The Suns could fire head coach Mike Budenholzer in the offseason to appease Durant and Devin Booker, an NBA source told Hoops Wire. Neither Durant nor Booker has a good relationship with Budenholzer, who is in his first season with Phoenix.

    The Suns fired Frank Vogel after one season and hired Budenholzer, who ironically won the 2021 championship with the Milwaukee Bucks against Phoenix. 

    Booker has spent his entire career with the Suns, while Durant was traded to Phoenix in February 2023.

    Most people believe Durant will be traded this offseason, but sources told Hoops Wire that KD enjoys playing with Booker and living in Phoenix.

    If Budenholzer is fired and the Suns hire a coach Durant and Booker sign off on, Durant may remain in the desert. 

    “The book isn’t closed on Durant returning to the Suns next season,” NBA reporter Logan Murdock of The Ringer wrote. “League sources suggest that Durant, who will be eligible for a two-year, $122 million extension this offseason, would be open to a return.”

    Durant has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists. He’s a two-time champion, a two-time Finals MVP, a one-time MVP and a four-time scoring champion. 

    Durant turns 37 in September. He’s averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Suns this season while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line. 

  • Kevin Love on Cooper Flagg oddly drawing comparison: ‘If he stays healthy he’ll have a far better career’

    Kevin Love on Cooper Flagg oddly drawing comparison: ‘If he stays healthy he’ll have a far better career’

    Somehow, the amazing career of former NBA champion and current Miami Heat power forward Kevin Love was mentioned when people were talking about the future of Duke star Cooper Flagg.Kevin Love, Heat, NBA

    Actually, it wasn’t really people. It was just sports media personality Dan Patrick. For some reason, Patrick decided to compare Flagg to Love — suggesting Flagg’s career would be a disappointment if he ended up as a similar player.

    Interesting, because Flagg and Love don’t play similar styles at all.

    “If you said his career was going to be like Kevin Love’s, would that be a disappointment?” Patrick asked on his show, before answering his own question. “And it probably would be.”

    Now, keep in mind that Flagg is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick, assuming he does in fact declare for the 2025 NBA Draft. So he’s a higher-rated college prospect than Love was during his run at UCLA.

    Also, Love is a prototypical power forward; Flagg is sort of a frontcourt Swiss Army knife, a fantastic athlete. His NBA comp is probably more Kawhi Leonard than Love. So why Patrick felt the need to mention Love … well, it’s anyone’s guess.

    Truth is, Love in his prime, when healthy, had an amazing run, first with the Timberwolves and then with the Cavaliers. In Minnesota, he will go down alongside the likes of Kevin Garnett and Karl-Anthony Towns among the greatest players in franchise history. In Cleveland, he reinvented himself to fit alongside LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to help lift the Cavs to the 2016 title.

    Either way, Love took no offense to Patrick’s Flagg comparison.

    “For those who will take this as a shot at me … I don’t take it as such,” he wrote on X. “I was pure skill and will. Cooper is far more talented than I ever was and if he stays healthy will have a far better career. He could very well have a statue by the time he’s finished. I’m a HUGE fan.”

    The great thing about social media and podcasts is that they create dialogue. The bad thing about social media and podcasts is that they sometimes create dumb dialogue. Comparing Flagg to Love fits the latter.