Windhorst: I Haven't Heard About Kevin Durant-Heat Trade in 'Legitimate Capacity'

After a trade rumor circulated by former NFL receiver Chad Johnson last week, a lot of attention is being paid to Kevin Durant and the Miami Heat.

Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show (starts at :15 mark), ESPN's Brian Windhorst said he "has not heard anything" connecting Durant to the Heat in a "legitimate capacity."

Johnson appeared on Shannon Sharpe's Nightcap podcast last week (starts at 4:20 mark) and said Durant told him he "would have no problem coming down to Miami, if it made sense."

There has been growing speculation that Durant might look to get out of Phoenix after the team's first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said on Monday's episode of Get Up (starts at :30 mark) that Durant in Phoenix is a "problem" right now.

The Heat could be in for a significant roster retooling this summer after another disappointing regular season that saw them lose in the first round of the playoffs to the Boston Celtics.

In response to Jimmy Butler saying the Celtics would have lost the series if he had been able to play, Heat president Pat Riley had some pointed comments about his star forward.

"I thought, 'Is that Jimmy trolling or is that Jimmy serious?'" Riley told reporters on May 6. "If you're not on the court playing against Boston or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut on the criticism of those teams."

Riley also explained the team hasn't made a decision about potentially extending the 34-year-old Butler because he has only played 233 out of a possible 318 regular-season games over the past four seasons.

"That's a big decision on our part to commit those kinds of resources unless you have somebody who's going to be there and available every single night," Riley said. "That's the truth."

Per ESPN's Bobby Marks, Butler could sign an extension of either one year and $58.6 million if he also opts in to his 2025-26 salary or two years and $112.9 million with the 2025-26 option voided this offseason.

Suns governor Mat Ishbia has made it clear he's optimistic about the future for the organization. The team hired Mike Budenholzer to replace Frank Vogel as head coach.

Durant has two years and $105.9 million remaining on his contract. He averaged 27.1 points on 52.3 percent shooting, 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in 75 starts this season.

The Suns were swept out of the first round of the playoffs by the Timberwolves. It was their first time being swept in the postseason since the 1998-99 season against the Portland Trail Blazers in a best-of-five first-round series.