Kevin Durant traded to Houston Rockets: The reported reason Miami Heat failed to get the Phoenix Suns star

Kevin Durant had been one of the main storylines in the NBA in recent weeks, with strong rumors swirling around his potential departure from the Phoenix Suns. One of the league’s biggest stars in recent years will now officially join the Houston Rockets — meaning the Miami Heat will continue to face him as an opponent, rather than welcoming him as a teammate.

Why won’t the star forward be heading to South Florida after all? According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the franchise wouldn’t include Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, the No. 20 pick, or other draft assets in the deal.

“The Suns’ 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,” the report stated.

Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant.

The 36-year-old veteran still has plenty left in the tank, and in the end, it’s Ime Udoka and his Houston Rockets who came out on top in the race for his services.

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A risky bet for the Heat

Who wouldn’t want a player with Kevin Durant’s talent on their roster? Most teams certainly would. That said, the former Suns and Golden State Warriors star comes with a history of injuries and is entering the later stages of his career — factors that made potential suitors think twice before going all-in on a trade.

The Heat were one of the top contenders to land Durant, but when weighing the number of young prospects they would have to give up in the trade, the front office ultimately backed out — and the deal never materialized.

“For a player that age and with that injury history, Heat did not want to include multiples firsts PLUS multiple young players it values. It would have given up one of each (one first and one young player it likes, though they didn’t want to give up Ware). That was their philosophy in February, and the end of last season didn’t make them change that philosophy,” Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported.