Overview
- Kevin Durant was sent to the Houston Rockets in early July as part of a record seven-team deal that Phoenix preferred over Miami’s offer.
- The Heat formally offered Andrew Wiggins, Terry Rozier, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Haywood Highsmith and the No. 20 pick in exchange for Durant and Cody Martin.
- Phoenix countered by demanding inclusion of Nikola Jović and a future pick swap, a price Miami deemed too steep.
- Miami traded forward Haywood Highsmith to the Brooklyn Nets in mid-August to lower its luxury-tax obligations.
- Attention now turns to the development of Kasparas Jakucionis and Nikola Jović as benchmarks for assessing Miami’s offseason strategy.