According to Charania, Miami refused to include young bench players like Highsmith, small forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., or power forward Nikola Jovic as part of a possible Phoenix return haul for Durant. The Heat also would not include starting center Kel'el Ware, the No. 20 pick in this year's draft, or other significant draft equity.

The Miami Heat were among the teams interested in Kevin Durant at the time he was traded to the Houston Rockets.