Kevin Durant Trade Reportedly Eyed by Heat with Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro 'Off-Limits'

The Miami Heat reportedly are ready to get in on the trade bidding for Kevin Durant as long as the Phoenix Suns don't ask for Bam Adebayo or Tyler Herro.

Per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Heat consider Adebayo and Herro "off-limits" because they view Durant as a complement to both players if they are able to bring him in.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that Durant and his business partner, Rich Kleiman, have been "sifting through" various trade scenarios recently, with the Heat, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs among teams that have expressed interest in the 15-time All-Star.

Miami had interest in the 36-year-old prior to the trade deadline in February, but the Suns' asking price was too high at the time.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst reported at the time the Heat "felt they would be mortgaging their future" by giving up what the Suns wanted. It's unclear exactly what the return for Phoenix would have been.

One problem for the Heat not wanting to include Adebayo or Herro in a trade for Durant is some of the other teams mentioned could beat an offer built around expiring contracts and draft picks.

Andrew Wiggins, Duncan Robinson and Terry Rozier are the highest-paid players on Miami's roster after Adebayo and Herro. Robinson has an early termination option that has to be decided on by June 29.

Winderman also cited Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr. as young players who could be included in a deal, but no one in that group has shown the ability to be a difference-maker in the NBA thus far.

It's always foolish to underestimate what Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra are capable of doing with the right motivation. There's a reason the Heat have never really bottomed out over the last 17 years, despite having some down seasons in that stretch.

Durant could also control where he ends up because of his contract status. He is currently signed for one more season with a $54.7 million salary, but he can extend for two years and up to $112 million after July 6.

A team trading for KD would presumably want some assurances he will sign a new deal. If he sets his sights on the Heat, that would seem to give them leverage over the other clubs in any discussions with the Suns.

The Heat have lost in the first round of the playoffs in each of the past two years. Their 37-45 record this season is tied for their worst mark during Spoelstra's tenure as head coach, dating back to 2007-08.

Durant averaged 26.6 points on 52.7 percent shooting, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in 62 starts for the Suns.