The Miami Heat are reportedly making Thunder forward Kevin Durant their no. 1 priority signing in the summer but the 2014 NBA MVP's performance in this year's West Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors is said to be keeping him in Oklahoma City.
NBC Sports cited ESPN Radio's Dan Le Batard as saying that it has always been the Heat's "plan" to "go after Durant and free everything up" for his potential signing in the coming free-agency period.
Le Batard reportedly said that "the plan (of Miami), the construct is - the priority, the No. 1 thing this offseason - is get in the room with Durant" to try and persuade him to join forces with Dwyane Wade, Hassan Whiteside, Luol Deng, and Goran Dragic to win multiple championships.
"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?" Batard added.
There were even wilder rumors that Miami may also try to reclaim LeBron James is he wins the NBA title this year and use that as the bait to lure Durant to their side.
However, the 27-year-old seven-time All-Star's play in the current West Finals is said to be "moving Durant away from Pat Riley", as per Rant Sports.
Durant has been the Kryptonite to Golden State's "Supermen" in the ongoing Western Conference finals as OKC was able to foil the Warriors' normal and season-long dominating game.
The Thunder crushed the defending champions for the second straight game during their 118-94 Game 4 win on Tuesday to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Durant and his buddy Russell Westbrook were again the best players for their team in the match, but it was the former's versatility that makes the Warriors' vaunted small ball lineup second-guess everything they do on the court at the moment.
If Durant and the Thunder go on to advance in the NBA Finals and possibly win the championship altogether, then it is highly likely that he will at least stay one more season in OKC to defend their title.
Even if they lose in the Finals, it is still a high probability that he will stay in Oklahoma City, unless the Heat can promise him a more viable path to the championship next season.