Log In

Dwyane Wade says he knows why Kevin Durant was never going to join the Miami Heat, same reason as 10 years ago

Published 7 hours ago3 minute read

Unfortunately for Heat fans, they could not get Durant, which Dwyane Wade believes could never have happened.

The Miami Heat are always on the lookout for their next star player. Team president Pat Riley has always found ways to get stars, including Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Bosh, and LeBron James. In their Kevin Durant chase, the Heat would have had another superstar.

It was a great hypothetical to discuss, but the Heat could not give them the right package, and he was traded to the Houston Rockets.

However, Heat legend Dwyane Wade feels Kevin Durant would not have gone to Miami anyway. He feels the player and the organization do not fit well together.

Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

Wade is friends with Durant, but he has never wanted him to go to Miami. The Heat have chased Durant for a long time, dating back to the mid-2010s. However, Wade opposed the idea, including the most recent pursuit.

In the basketball sense, Durant is the perfect player to pair with Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. He is one of this generation’s best players, but Wade felt Durant would never have willingly gone to Miami. It is interesting as Durant selected Miami as one of his preferences before the trade.

Kevin Durant tells Dwyane Wade he’s “too small” after dropping a bucket on him. (2012) pic.twitter.com/Qxtycb5Qek

— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) August 16, 2019

Despite that, Wade is adamant that the trade was not the issue, and he is glad it didn’t happen.

“Bron went to Miami, he’s not going to Miami. I said this 10 years ago when the HEAT were trying to get him then, UD said this on his show as well. He’s not following LeBron,” Wade said on his Time Out show.

“Why are we recruiting somebody who’s not doing that? I didn’t like it then, and I don’t like it now. I’m glad he’s in Houston. That ain’t it.”

While Wade did not want Durant on the Heat, he wants the front office to make moves. The Heat struggled in the 2024-25 season, and they also dealt with a saga involving Jimmy Butler. It was not the best year for the Heat, but the future looks promising if they make moves.

Building around Herro and Adebayo provides a good foundation for Miami. They are legitimate stars, but they must get reinforcements to compete. The Eastern Conference may be easier due to injuries to superstars, which the Heat could take advantage of.

Setting the blueprint for the offseason. pic.twitter.com/rJCKLpxj5v

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 9, 2025

“There is some work that needs to be done. I don’t want to be like these old dudes who can’t come back and get celebrated like Dale Davis or Reggie Miller. We have to get this tight,” Wade continued.

They will face some stiff competition, like the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic, but the Heat can make some noise. However, that will not happen without making the moves that help the team. Chasing Durant was a good sign for the Heat’s ambitions, but they must follow up with more moves.

Origin:
publisher logo
Yardbarker
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

You may also like...