Kevin Durant will be a free agent this offseason, and that's led to plenty of rumors about which teams will make a run at him. One of those teams that will chase the superstar is the Miami Heat.
ESPN's Dan Le Batard reports that the Heat's plan is to target Durant first and foremost.
"The plan is and always has been: Go after Durant and free everything up – so much so that you insulted your superstar this offseason by telling Dwyane Wade no on multiple years, even though that’s what he wanted," Le Batard said Friday. "Dwyane, who deserves more of your allegiances as business and a company and management than Chris Bosh does. Because the whole thing is get in a room with Durant after this season.
"What I’m telling you, no matter how much you laugh at it, is that the Heat is getting in the room with Durant. Now, what happens from there, who knows? But you can sit here and laugh at it all you want, but the plan, the construct is – the priority, the No. 1 thing this offseason – is get in the room with Durant.
"You do what you want with the information. All I’m telling you is priority No. 1 is not get Dwyane locked up, Whiteside locked up. No. 1 on the list is can you get the superstar that is the big get in free agency while also taking care of your people around that?"
Le Batard is convinced the Heat will at least get a chance to talk with Durant. Heat President Pat Riley has proven himself in the past at luring superstars to Miami, landing Bosh and LeBron James. Of course, adding Durant would limit the Heat's options with other players. Durant will command a max salary and the Heat won't be able to afford everyone, especially with Wade, Whiteside and several others hitting free agency.
Plus, there's no guaranteed Durant will want to play for the Heat. He loves Oklahoma City, has been linked to the Warriors and the Celtics have a better young core than the Heat. No matter what, expect to hear plenty of Kevin Durant free agency rumors this summer.
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