Ever since rumors began swirling about Kevin Durant’s potential departure from the Phoenix Suns, the Miami Heat have consistently been mentioned as one of the frontrunners in a possible trade. But despite all the speculation, it appears that a deal may never materialize — and one NBA franchise legend isn’t staying silent.
Dwyane Wade, who originally left the Heat following the 2015–16 season before returning to retire with the franchise in 2019, is now offering some insight into Miami’s long-standing interest in Durant. The three-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer opened up about the team’s intentions during the latest episode of The Why Podcast, which he hosts.
According to Wade, the Heat have had their eyes on Durant for more than a decade. In fact, he claims Miami’s pursuit of the superstar forward played a role in his decision to leave the organization back in 2016.
“Man, the Heat have been trying to get [Kevin Durant] for 10 years,” Wade said. “That’s one of the reasons I wasn’t with that mo**erf* no more. Because that summer, they were like, ‘We’re going to try to get KD.’ They’ve been trying to get him for 10 years. So do you want him or not? Right now, they’re just playing a couple games. This is what the Heat do — they don’t push their chips in unless they think they’ve got a winner. So obviously, they didn’t want to give up what was asked to bring KD in.”
Three-time NBA champion with the Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade.
Wade left the Heat during the same offseason Durant joined the Golden State Warriors, a move that reshaped the league. The implication is clear: Wade believed Miami needed to create space — both financially and organizationally — to make a real run at Durant. But the move never happened, and the Heat were ultimately left empty-handed.
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Despite repeated interest over the years, Miami have never landed Durant. And now, it appears that the opportunity has officially passed. According to Shams Charania, the Houston Rockets have emerged as Durant’s likely next destination, with a possible trade tied to movement in the upcoming NBA Draft.
If that deal goes through, the Rockets would add another high-level scorer to their young, developing roster. As for the Heat, their long chase for Durant may come to a quiet end without ever getting close to the finish line.
Wade suggests that the root cause may be Miami’s unwillingness to part with key assets — a stance that Pat Riley and the front office have maintained over multiple offseasons. While it’s a strategy that’s kept the Heat competitive, it may have cost them a shot at one of the NBA’s all-time greats.
