Inside The Heat

Miami Heat Legend Reacts To Kevin Durant Trade Rumors

Anthony Pasciolla

Mar 24, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates after a play during the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mar 24, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates after a play during the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Miami Heat, along with the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves, are seen as the leaders in the sweepstakes for Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant.

Rumors and discussions about Durant's next NBA home are progressing quickly, leading to direct and indirect reactions about the situation from people in the Heat's organization.

While All-Star guard Tyler Herro cannot directly comment on the matter and instead placed Durant in his all-time starting five, Heat legend Udonis Haslem has some more freedom.

The three-time NBA champion was asked on The Pat McAfee Show if he believes Durant would mesh well in Miami, to which he responded, “I think Kevin Durant would fit in anywhere, but definitely, I feel he fits in with the Miami Heat culture,” Haslem said. “I can’t speak too much on it, but I would say he’s a guy who comes in and just has to be Kevin Durant.”

“What I will say is that if it happens, he comes into a locker room and a situation where you have a Hall of Fame coach already in (Erik) Spoelstra Nostra, where you have a team that has a culture already. The question that people have about Kevin Durant is, can Kevin Durant be a leader? He doesn't have to be a leader in Miami. They already have leadership. They already have a culture. They already have a hell of a head coach," Haslem concluded.

With the Durant trade saga seemingly coming to a close rather swiftly, it's nice for Heat fans to hear a franchise legend and the Vice President of Basketball Development is on board with the pursuit of the 15-time All-Star.

MORE MIAMI HEAT NEWS

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Anthony Pasciolla
ANTHONY PASCIOLLA

Anthony Pasciolla is a sports journalist who began covering the NBA in June 2023. A Philadelphia native, Anthony has experience covering the Philadelphia 76ers as a credentialed reporter. He has written for Miami Heat, Back In The Day Hoops, Kansas State Wildcats, and Illinois Fighting Illini on Sports Illustrated. His work also includes 76ers coverage for The Sporting News and previous stories for Athlon Sports and BasketballNews. When he’s not covering the NBA, you can find him spending time with friends and family or diving into the world of fantasy football. Follow him on X @AnthonyPasci or reach him via email at ampasciolla@gmail.com