Kevin Durant Reportedly Eyed by Heat If Rockets Star Hits NBA Free Agency in 2026

It remains to be seen whether Kevin Durant will be available in free agency next offseason, but the Miami Heat reportedly could be waiting if he does.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported Tuesday that "Durant will forever be a Heat possibility if he makes it to free agency; the Heat always has held him in high regard."

However, Jackson also noted "key members of the organization disagreed about which players to offer in trade negotiations" with the Phoenix Suns before the future Hall of Famer ended up with the Houston Rockets. 

Miami didn't include Kel'el Ware or Nikola Jović to go along with other assets such as a 2025 first-round pick and a first-round pick swap, and the Suns moved Durant to the Rockets. 

That he has just one season remaining on his deal offers hopes to the Heat and others who would surely love to sign him in free agency without giving up too many assets in a trade, but Jackson reported "it would be a mild surprise" if Houston didn't come to terms on an extension with its newly acquired star.

Durant is eligible for a two-year, $118 million extension.

Miami could use an impact player like the 15-time All-Star considering it is coming off a 37-45 season and doesn't have a franchise-altering superstar alongside Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.

The franchise has often relied on those types of players such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler in recent years, but there isn't nearly as much star power on the roster heading into the 2025-26 campaign.

A third straight first-round exit could be in the cards as a result, which could surely be a motivating factor for the front office if and when Durant hits free agency.

But the Rockets might just stand in their way.