After the Miami Heat were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, team president Pat Riley made it obvious that he did not want to run it again next season.
The most often speculated means for the Heat to do so is to trade for a superstar, such as the Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant or the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo. Either of these players would immediately become the Heat’s top choice, so the front staff should do everything in its power to keep them satisfied.
It is not in the Heat’s philosophy to cater to their top players, but there is a way for the organization to eliminate Durant’s trade path before he arrives in Miami.
. ClutchPoints recently recommended the Heat to pursue Russell Westbrook, an older All-Star and Durant’s former colleague, if he declines his player option with the Denver Nuggets.
“Westbrook is unlikely to sign for more than the veteran minimum, and adding good players for cheap has to be something that would intrigue the Heat,” according to the report.
Durant and Westbrook were the Oklahoma City Thunder’s mainstays for years, but when the former opted to join the Golden State Warriors, their friendship dissolved.
Durant’s current relationship is highlighted by numerous in-game disagreements and blunt interview segments, so it’s unlikely that he’ll reunite with Westbrook.
That does not mean the Heat should fully ignore Westbrook in free agency. The front office must be patient, studying where Durant chooses to spend his likely final NBA years before pursuing Westbrook.
Alternatively, the Heat may entirely disregard the prospective Durant acquisition, focusing solely on an Antetokounmpo trade request.
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