Miami a favorite landing spot for Kevin Durant?

Jake Fischer: On Monday, as the league prepared for Kevin Durant to potentially request a trade during the Kyrie opt-in saga, Phoenix and Miami were often mentioned as the All-Star’s perceived favorite landing spots. Source: Twitter @JakeLFischer …

Jake Fischer: On Monday, as the league prepared for Kevin Durant to potentially request a trade during the Kyrie opt-in saga, Phoenix and Miami were often mentioned as the All-Star’s perceived favorite landing spots.

Source: Twitter @JakeLFischer

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Alan Hahn @alanhahn
If you’re the Nets, and KD wants to go to Phoenix, don’t you start the conversation with Devin Booker? I’m sending you one of the three best players in the game. Don’t offer me your supporting cast players! FOH – 3:31 PM
Nick Wright @getnickwright
LeBron & AD, PG13 & Kawhi, and KD & Kyrie teamed up in the same Summer.
The Lakers have been largely pilloried by the media in this era. They also won a Championship.
Meanwhile, KD/Kyrie & Kawhi/PG13 played a combined ZERO (0) Finals, or even Conference Finals, games together. – 3:31 PM
Anthony Puccio @APOOCH
KD wants out… yes it’s worse than 12-70 #Nets twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…3:30 PM
Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
Free agent movement has just been hi-jacked by KD. There is not one untouchable piece in the Bulls organization – player, coach, front office, PR – that shouldn’t be included in a deal if you’re AK. Not one. Three years of KD is better than 5 years of any Bull. – 3:30 PM
Justin Garcia @tmjgarcia
The absolutely hilarious part is the Warriors are actually the team positioned to make the best offer for Durant – 3:30 PM
Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
Most fun KD trade outcomes for all of us just from a HOLY SHIT standpoint…
1. Zion/Pels
2. AD/Lakers
3. Knicks
4. OKC
5. Boston
Finishing last… Sacramento – 3:28 PM
Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Heat convos went from Otto Porter to Kevin Durant so quick LOL – 3:27 PM
David Locke @DLocke09
What’s your package for Durant? – 3:27 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
My take on Kevin Durant’s list of teams:
That’s nice, but the Nets have to make the best trade for the Nets. They have no reason to move KD to a team offering a lesser package to make him happy. This is your one, best chance to fully reset everything. Nets have to get it right. – 3:27 PM
Mike McGraw @McGrawDHSports
Haven’t done any salary math, but Vuc, Patrick Williams, Portland’s 1st, a #Bulls 1st and any other player on the roster Brooklyn wants, Durant is about to turn 34 – 3:26 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Durant playoff win% with Steph:
— 78.6%
Kyrie playoff win% with LeBron:
— 75.0%
Durant playoff win% with Kyrie:
— 46.2% pic.twitter.com/jzuyz7632n3:26 PM

Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
No contact with the Nets from Durant and Irving since Kyrie opted into his deal
sportando.basketball/en/no-contact-…3:26 PM
Eric Koreen @ekoreen
I do enjoy that in 11 months we’ve gone from “They took WHO over Jalen Suggs?” to “Scottie Barnes is untouchable, even for Kevin Durant.”
None of that is even wrong necessarily, it’s just a hell of a development. – 3:25 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
We’ve got:
@Chris Haynes reporting Kevin Durant has the Suns as his preferred destination
@Quinton Mayo reporting Deandre Ayton to the Suns rumors
– Myself among others reporting Kyrie Irving’s interest in going to the Lakers
What an organizational fumble. – 3:25 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
Kevin Durant made the trade request directly to Nets owner Joe Tsai today, sources tell ESPN. – 3:25 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Talking to folks around the NBA the belief is that everything is going to pause with the opening of free agency until Kevin Durant’s next home is decided. Every team and player will sit mostly still until Durant is traded. Then the flood will happen. – 3:25 PM
Shandel Richardson @ShandelRich
Kevin Durant shakes things up before the free agency period begins #miamiheat si.com/nba/heat/miami…3:24 PM
Mark Deeks @MarkDeeksNBA
Maybe just keep KD and use the stretch provision on Kyrie. – 3:24 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving trade rumors shuffle equation for Heat, NBA ahead of free agency. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h…3:24 PM
Matt Williams @StatsWilliams
Kevin Durant ranks 4th all-time in points per game and 1st among active players. He has averaged 25 points in every season of his career except his rookie year.
Most Career PPG
Michael Jordan: 30.1
Wilt Chamberlain: 30.1
Elgin Baylor: 27.4
Kevin Durant: 27.2
LeBron James: 27.1 – 3:24 PM
Frank Isola @TheFrankIsola
Now we know why Kevin Durant had been so quiet the last few days and why he danced around the Kyrie situation on his “new media” podcast. – 3:24 PM
Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
Now on @SpotifyLive talking Kevin Durant and what’s next: spotifylive.link/NDKktXOXhrb3:22 PM
Alex Raskin @RaskinDailyMail
Never forget: #Nets signed an over-the-hill DeAndre Jordan to a four-year, $40 million deal before benching and trading Jarrett Allen to convince Durant and Irving to sign in Brooklyn. This team scuttled its own rebuilding plan for a Durant/Irving combo and got NOTHING. – 3:22 PM
Mark Deeks @MarkDeeksNBA
Sneak peak at the 2022/23 Phoenix Suns led by Chris Paul and Kevin Durant pic.twitter.com/WHnNBWeg6I3:22 PM

Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
The Nets got Kevin Durant and proceeded to make mistakes every step of the way. – 3:22 PM
Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
Now on @njdotcom
Kevin Durant requests trade from Brooklyn Nets nj.com/sports/2022/06…3:22 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Miami has to unprotect their 2025 1st round pick they owe OKC if they want to send Brooklyn picks for KD.
Sam Presti may ask for additional compensation on top of unprotecting the pick because adding KD makes the pick worse. – 3:22 PM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Kevin Durant has requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets😱
basketnews.com/news-174405-ke…3:21 PM
Henry Abbott @TrueHoop
At the age of 33, Kevin Durant produced so much that his $42 million salary was a moneymaker for the Nets.
He’s owed close to $200 million in the years to come, though, ending when he’s 37.
What’s this analysis based on? More here, free:
https://t.co/piSbIkkKck pic.twitter.com/wXzxBx0IQn3:21 PM

Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
NEW: Durant asks for trade; Heat is on his list and Miami is obviously interested in Durant. But Phoenix – also on Durant’s list – has more good young assets to offer because of an arcane cap rule restricting Adebayo’s trade availability to Brooklyn: miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia…3:20 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Kevin Durant is asking for a trade so what exactly does that mean for the Celtics offseason? A first look at new trade options, Brooklyn’s potential demands and much more masslive.com/celtics/2022/0…3:20 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
My answer to any question on a trade package for Kevin Durant pic.twitter.com/4f0Q7KrjJn3:19 PM

Alex Kennedy @AlexKennedyNBA
What would a Kevin Durant trade look like? What kind of package would it take to land him?
@NekiasNBA recently broke it down and looked at potential destinations for KD: basketballnews.com/stories/nba-tr…3:19 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
Mindblowing! Kevin Durant is setting to leave Brooklyn and he gonna change the upcoming season overall. This off-season belongs to KD from today. Phoenix, Miami or elsewhere maybe. #NBAFreeAgency
sdna.gr/mpasket/980653…3:18 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Report: Kevin Durant requests trade from Nets, prefers Suns or Heat nba.nbcsports.com/2022/06/30/rep…3:17 PM
Alvaro Martin @AlvaroNBAMartin
¿Por qué sonríe este señor? Si estás en sus zapatos de lujo, ¿qué entregarías a cambio de Kevin Durant? (creatividad pero con decencia, por favor) pic.twitter.com/yT0vBOtOL53:16 PM

Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Kyrie: “See you in the fall!!”
KD:
pic.twitter.com/X6MKmW4eEi3:15 PM

Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Best the Heat can do right now is Lowry, Herro, mix of young guys (Vincent, Strus, Yurt) and three first-round picks (plus swaps). It’s possible they could reroute Lowry to a third team to have younger players go back to BKN, but not sure how many teams are helping Riley land KD – 3:13 PM
Adam Lauridsen @GSWFastBreak
Suns working to land KD like… pic.twitter.com/PXifNUSsby3:13 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Funniest places the Nets can trade Kevin Durant to, ranked:
1. OKC – 3:13 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Remember how 2014 free agency ground to a halt while the whole league waited for LeBron?
Yea, I have to imagine 2022 free agency does the same thing for Durant. Maybe Brunson still goes to the Knicks quickly, but a lot of the other big fish are gonna have to wait for KD. – 3:13 PM
Jon Krawczynski @JonKrawczynski
The Wolves have to look at the possibilities here. If you can pair KD with KAT and Ant, you do it. Realistic? Unlikely.
But it may be time revisit the Ben Simmons discussions as well. – 3:12 PM
James Edwards III @JLEdwardsIII
Bane, Zaire, Brooks, Adams’ expiring and future firsts for KD … who says no?
I just want him to go to a fun team we wouldn’t expect. – 3:12 PM
Jason Dumas @JDumasReports
KD reading all y’all tweets right now too lol – 3:12 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Predictions:
– Kevin Durant to the Suns.
– Kyrie Irving to the Lakers.
– Ben Simmons to the Wolves.
– The most insane Western Conference we’ve ever seen. – 3:11 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
With 4 years left on KD’s deal, and his likely destinations being very unlikely to have the best trade package, this will be our biggest test ever of player empowerment. How much can he control his destination given the duration of the contract? – 3:11 PM
Alex Kennedy @AlexKennedyNBA
KEVIN DURANT MAY BE ON THE MOVE: twitter.com/i/spaces/1ZkJz…3:11 PM
Mike McGraw @McGrawDHSports
Could DeRozan, Durant and LaVine win a title? #Bulls3:10 PM
Jason Dumas @JDumasReports
KD/Book/CP3 is a bomb squad – 3:10 PM
Dan Favale @danfavale
the most diabolical outcome to this whole thing is the nets asking kd for his list of preferred trade destinations *specifically* so they can send him somewhere that’s not on it pic.twitter.com/fiPvjXncO23:09 PM

Andrew Sharp @andrewsharp
Kyrie: “See you in the fall. A11even.”
KD: “Wellllll…” – 3:09 PM
Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Ultimately, I don’t think I’m moving Barnes + necessary salaries (OG + GTG?) and picks for Durant. But this is one of the best top 12 players of all time who is currently one of the five best players on the planet. You talk about it. – 3:08 PM
Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
This could really be insane
The Heat miss out on everybody
But now sit a big time package away from a top 3 player in the world: Kevin Durant
Bam Adebayo can’t be offered in this deal due to contracts with Ben Simmons
So it’s time for madness – 3:08 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
If Brooklyn really wants picks for Durant, Houston is like, a generational winner today.
If the Nets go in the tank to try to come away with a remotely decent pick through their swap rights with the Rockets next year, Houston’s odds are Victor Wembanyama go up significantly. – 3:07 PM
Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
UCLA has inquired about Kevin Durant for its move to the Big Ten more at 11 – 3:07 PM
Gordon Gross @GMoneyNuggs
I still wanna see Durant go back to OKC. It would just be amazing to me. He could literally rewrite his legacy on the fly, going almost the same route that LeBron did to bring a title to the team that drafted him (well, the zombie Sonics) after rings elsewhere. Not happening tho – 3:06 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatz
Durant didn’t get a player option on the final year of that four-year extension, which always struck me. Not sure why it amounted like that, but normally someone of his stature gets every bit of player-friendliness on a deal. Locked in for 4 years now as Nets look for a trade. – 3:06 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
I don’t know the inner workings of the Durant and Nets relationship, but I do know if he’s asking out now after kyrie opted in, I think I’d be searching for the best offer, not satisfying Durant’s wish list. – 3:05 PM
Mark Deeks @MarkDeeksNBA
COULD HAVE BEEN: Kyrie, KD, Harden.
ACTUALLY IS: Kyrie, Ben Simmons, Royce O’Neale, and Iunno, Duncan Robinson? – 3:05 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Durant in the playoffs for the Nets:
— 32.3 PPG
— 8.4 RPG
— 4.9 APG
— 49/39/88%
7 wins. 9 losses. pic.twitter.com/4aR7Cry5p93:05 PM

Derek Bodner @DerekBodnerNBA
Just to get this out of the way:
Yes, of course you would trade Tyrese Maxey for Kevin Durant. Tyrese Maxey would trade Tyrese Maxey for Kevin Durant.
Also: you don’t get Kevin Durant unless he says “I want to go to Philadelphia.” – 3:04 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
The Ayton BYC issues don’t go away because KD asked for a trade. – 3:04 PM
The Ringer @ringernba
Kyrie: “We’re gonna have a special season. I just know it.”
KD:
pic.twitter.com/NIi4LpqU5n3:04 PM
Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
i would trade anthony davis for kevin durant in two seconds if i was the lakers. the nba needs this. – 3:03 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
The outline for a trade for a star has been roughly a promising young potential All-Star plus several 1st round picks and also some pick swaps. Obviously there hasn’t been anyone on the trade market as good as Kevin Durant. How many teams can check off all those marks right now? – 3:02 PM
Ben Rohrbach @brohrbach
Kevin Durant wants to leave a contender to join the team that won far more regular-season games than any other before losing a Game 7 to an inferior playoff opponent. Sounds familiar. – 3:02 PM
Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
Here are Kevin Durant’s remaining contract numbers … and you know what — it doesn’t even matter.
Every team will tear up the roster to get KD. I love free agency. pic.twitter.com/H5mfuIMtRg3:00 PM

Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Kyrie: “Normal people keep the world going, but those who dare to be different lead us into tomorrow. I’ve made my decision to opt in. See you in the fall.”
Durant: pic.twitter.com/Ej2UKgcJlz3:00 PM
Zach Lowe @ZachLowe_NBA
Did some potential KD trades last week w/ @Bobby Marks on the Lowe Post podcast — including PHX deals that are somewhat complicated by the hard cap in the event Brooklyn acquires Ayton in a sign-and-trade.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bob…3:00 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Players to average 50/40/85% or better over the last 2 seasons:
— Kevin Durant
He was one free throw off from going 50/40/90%. pic.twitter.com/w1JtiZt5B73:00 PM

Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Heat (and a ton of teams) had been preparing for a run at Durant. Kyrie opted in. Things paused. It’s back on. – 2:59 PM
Mark Deeks @MarkDeeksNBA
New Orleans. Landing spot for Durant. Calling it now. – 2:59 PM
Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
– USC and UCLA are looking to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten.
– Kevin Durant has officially requested a trade to leave Brooklyn.
My Fourth of July weekend plans: pic.twitter.com/f0v3DokLyy2:59 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
KD gonna join a 73 win team and a 64 win team lol – 2:59 PM
The Ringer @ringernba
Make your prediction now. Where’s KD going? – 2:58 PM
Jake Fischer @JakeLFischer
On Monday, as the league prepared for Kevin Durant to potentially request a trade during the Kyrie opt-in saga, Phoenix and Miami were often mentioned as the All-Star’s perceived favorite landing spots. – 2:58 PM
Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
Here are the list of players to pick from if you are the Nets in a Durant package.
Remember that the Thunder received 5 first rd. picks, 2 years of pick swaps and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Paul George back in 2019.
espn.com/nba/insider/in…2:58 PM
James Edwards III @JLEdwardsIII
KD to Portland for Simons, Sharpe and a first every other year until 2035 … who says no? – 2:57 PM
Kyle Ratke @Kyle_Ratke
KD landing spots? Boston, LAC, Miami — feels like it should be easier to find a match. – 2:57 PM
Derek Bodner @DerekBodnerNBA
Kyrie: I’m renewing my commitment to the Brooklyn Nets.
Simmons: I might be ready to maybe take a jump shot.
KD: I’m out. – 2:57 PM
Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
FWIW, the Royce trade has been in the works for at least a couple of days, so I don’t know that it’s related to the Kevin Durant news. – 2:57 PM
Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Wherever KD goes, he gotta go back to 35 🔥. – 2:57 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
KD when Kyrie said he’s coming back pic.twitter.com/Df9hZb0HUw2:57 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
As the Nets prepare to move one of the most valuable trade assets ever on the market, the entire roster will available to discuss in deals, sources tell ESPN. Teams have been calling on Durant, and the Nets will certainly look for a historic return on players and draft picks. – 2:56 PM
Howard Chen @TheHoChen
Just your normal (COMPLETELY SARCASTIC) day: UCLA/USC about to leave the Pac12 and KD requests a trade. Gotcha. – 2:56 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Kevin Durant has four years and $197.6M left on his deal.
And everyone will be lining up the best possible they can to trade for him. – 2:56 PM
Alexis Morgan @alexismorgan
every nba player and their mother going to be calling kd from the parking lot rn – 2:55 PM
Ian Begley @IanBegley
Kevin Durant has requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, league sources confirm. – 2:55 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Kevin Durant put up crazy numbers for Nets:
28.7 PPG
7.3 RPG
6.1 APG
53/41/90%
In 90 games. pic.twitter.com/uTqGQI3VFT2:55 PM

Ben Anderson @BensHoops
Also, that Brooklyn first round might not be too bad if KD is gone. – 2:55 PM
Aaron Rose @AaronBenRose
Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving didn’t last together? Wow! Who would have thought! – 2:54 PM
Matthew Tynan @Matthew_Tynan
Man if you thought yesterday was crazy… let me tell you about that one time Kevin Durant decided to switch teams. – 2:54 PM
Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
The eventual KD trade package is going to be insane! – 2:54 PM
Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
two days ago: Dare to be different. Here to finish what I started with 7.
KD: pic.twitter.com/a6Lvpdvmic2:53 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Kevin Durant played 15 more regular season games with the Brooklyn Nets than Paul Pierce pic.twitter.com/MFYn0ltIph2:52 PM

Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Kyrie opts in and KD still wants out. Incredible. With four years left on his deal and Durant, at 34, still playing at an MVP level, Brooklyn could — and should — get back one of the largest trade packages in NBA history. – 2:52 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
If you’re wondering what a Suns-Nets trade for Kevin Durant might look like, I threw out a few options here (bit.ly/3GsnHe1) and at the beginning of this one here (bit.ly/39Z0AMo) – 2:51 PM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
Earthquake hits NBA 3:10 before free agency. Good luck topping the Durant news, free agents. – 2:51 PM
Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
Kevin Durant has informed the Brooklyn Nets that he wants to be traded, league sources confirmed to @YahooSports. – 2:51 PM
Matthew Tynan @Matthew_Tynan
So, how bout this KD thing, yeah? – 2:51 PM
Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
There’s always that one name that comes out of nowhere
That name is Kevin Durant – 2:50 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
Brooklyn Nets GM Sean Marks is working with Kevin Durant and his business manager Rich Kleiman on finding a trade for the franchise star, Kleiman tells ESPN. – 2:49 PM
Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Kevin Durant has requested a trade out of Brooklyn, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. – 2:49 PM
Lang Greene @LangGreene
Crazy. The two teams KD and Kyrie CHOSE to LEAVE, willingly, just got finished battling in the NBA Finals. – 11:27 PM

More on this storyline

Adrian Wojnarowski: Phoenix and Miami are among two of the teams that Kevin Durant has on his wish list, sources tell ESPN, but the Nets plan to move Durant where they can get the best possible deal. With four years on his contract, there’s no shortage of teams willing to unload assets for Durant. -via Twitter @wojespn / June 30, 2022
Chris Haynes: Kevin Durant has the Phoenix Suns listed as a preferred trade destination, league sources tell @YahooSports. -via Twitter @ChrisBHaynes / June 30, 2022