Heat Trade Rumors: Congolese forward a “fallback” option in case Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant negotiations fall apart

While the Miami Heat are actively in pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant, the team already has a backup plan if they don’t acquire either star.

Durant is the biggest name in the trade market this offseason. He was announced to be on the trading block even before the 2025 trade deadline. Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo remains uncertain but will also be on everyone’s list if he becomes available. The Greek-freak previously expressed that he’s open to the idea of exploring other opportunities with other teams.

While Miami’s goal is to secure itself a new star player, especially after Jimmy Butler’s departure, they’re already anticipating the worst-case scenario. According to NBA insider Michael Sotto, Miami also reportedly eyes Congolese forward Jonathan Kuminga. The Golden State Warriors didn’t offer Kuminga a contract extension, making him a restricted free agent this offseason.

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“Miami (Heat) has prioritized pursuits of Giannis Antetokounmpo (if he became available this summer) and (Kevin) Durant (whom they’re actively trying to acquire) on their wish list ahead of Kuminga, who’s viewed as a fallback option to the two superstars,” Sotto reported.

Looking at Miami's chances, there's a high probability of them landing a deal with the Phoenix Suns if they play their cards right. Kevin Durant reportedly expressed interest in three teams. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, one of those teams is the Heat. Given their mutual interest in each one, there's a chance that Phoenix could consider transacting with Miami.

NBA Analyst: Miami could be a perfect fit for Kevin Durant

The Kevin Durant trade saga continues as the Phoenix Suns are still looking for suitors for their 36-year-old superstar. The Miami Heat are currently one of the top teams that could potentially land a deal with the Suns.

With Jimmy Butler out of the picture, Miami relied on the duo of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Unfortunately, their tandem fell short as they got swept in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Given the circumstances, it's clear that Miami needs another star to help them make another deep playoff run. NBA analyst Ric Bucher urged KD to suit up for the Heat next season.

"You have all of the pieces in Miami that most closely resembles what (Kevin Durant) walked into with Golden State," Bucher said on Monday. "Yes, Golden State was a winner, but the culture was already set. You had a great coach, you had a reputation for winning championships."

For now, everything remains to be seen. Rumors are circulating about Durant already being traded to the San Antonio Spurs. Other rumors suggest the Phoenix Suns might consider making a deal with the Toronto Raptors instead.

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Itiel Estudillo

Itiel Estudillo is an NBA journalist at Sportskeeda. He played for his basketball teams during elementary and high school. With strong sports writing and journalism skills, Itiel excels in crafting engaging narratives and staying updated with the latest NBA news and trends. He enjoys fact-checking, helping with research, and being a fresh set of eyes on fellow writers' articles.

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