How Kevin Durant would make the Miami Heat better

Kevin Durant is the arguably the biggest prize in the free agent sweepstakes. How would his talents mesh with the Miami Heat?

With a maximum of two games left to be played this season, free agency is rapidly gaining on the horizon, and this summer is shaping up to be one of the more memorable ones in recent memory. An A-list of free agents, several coaching changes, the draft and a spiking cap await, and fans as well as GM’s around the league are salivating.

Atop of this extensive list of free agents is Kevin Durant, perhaps the most dangerous offensive weapon in basketball outside of Steph Curry.

Durant has spent his entire nine-year career with the Thunder. Throughout those nine seasons, Durant is averaging 27.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, earning an All-Star nod seven times and the 2014 season MVP award. The Thunder have also made the playoffs in five of the last six seasons (missing 2015 in large part due to a foot injury that sidelines Durant for most of the season).

All that said, Durant and the Thunder have only been to the Finals once in the Westbrook/Durant era, losing a lopsided series in five games to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat. Many could argue OKC should have represented the West in the championship round this year, blowing a 3-1 lead against the 73-win Warriors in the Conference Finals.

But here we are. Durant is 27 and is entering his prime. It’s not about playoff appearances and All-Star games. It’s not about winning MVP awards every year. It’s about the jewelry, the ring, something that has eluded Durant thus far.

On the flip side, the Heat are coming off a relatively successful campaign. Even with Chris Bosh on the bench for the entire second half of the season, Miami still earned the third seed and made noise in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Had Hassan Whiteside not gone down with a sprained MCL, the Heat just may have faced off against LeBron and the Cavaliers in the conference finals instead of Toronto. This illustrates just how much easier it may be to advance in the Eastern Conference, as far away from those Warriors as possible.

But we’re not here to make Durant’s decision. We’re here to take a look at several ways the former MVP, if he were to sign with the Heat, can change the way basketball is played in South Beach.

Outside Shooting

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As if it wasn’t obvious enough. One of Miami’s fatal flaws from a season ago was their three-point shooting. The Heat finished the year ranked 27th in three-point field goal percentage at just 33.6 percent. Not having Bosh as an option from that range always hurts, but it’s hard to go deep into the postseason with no consistent outside shooting. It’s every player’s worst nightmare to transform in to a one-dimensional team in the playoffs, where defenses can absolutely eat you alive with the slowed pace.

Durant would drastically change the entire approach of Miami’s offense with his jump shot. A career 38 percent shooter from that range, Durant averaged 28.2 points and made 38.7 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc this past season.

Historically, Durant has killed teams in the past with his three-point shooting(ask the Spurs and the Mavericks.) At 6-foot-9, we haven’t seen a forward with that smooth of a touch from outside in quite a long time.

With Dwyane Wade not known for his long-range shooting, Durant’s game would compliment Flash’s nicely.

Another Closer

It’s no secret that throughout his entire career, crunch time is one of the Durantula’s strong suits.

No. 35 has made plenty of clutch shots over the years, and while he’s seen his struggles against gritty, tough defensive teams like Memphis, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

There’s no doubt Wade reminded us all just how great down the stretch he can be this past postseason, but turning 35 this coming season, Miami will need to be able to rely on more than just Wade’s knees in crunch time over the course of an 82 game season.

Smack in the middle of his prime, Durant’s presence along with Wade and potentially Bosh, Goran Dragic and Whiteside would make it difficult for any opposing defense down the stretch.

Playoff Experience

While Durant does not boast a championship ring on his finger quite yet, he’s played in 16 playoff series since 2010, including four trips to the Conference Finals, as well as an NBA Finals appearance in 2012.

His career postseason numbers aren’t too shabby, either.

Through 91 career playoff games, Durant posts averages of 28.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He also averages a little over a steal and a block each. While his three-point percentage drops off a little bit(32.9 percent,) he certainly makes up for it in other areas.

Going on a decade in the league and no title on his resume to show for it, South Beach’s lore of recent championship tradition may be enticing to Durant.

Hunger to Win

LeBron knew this all-too-well when he departed Cleveland for the warm sun of South Beach in 2010.

Though Durant’s young career has had many more ups than downs, that elusive first championship is still in his sights, and the vision of winning one in Oklahoma City is becoming cloudier as the seasons pass.

Durant and running mate Russell Westbrook still haven’t seemed to perfectly mesh, both young superstars more than capable of leading respective teams. It’s very unclear to this day who the true “alpha dog” is in OKC, and the clock keeps ticking on that verdict to be reached.

Putting his ego aside twice already in his career for the sake of the team, there’s no doubt Wade wouldn’t mind handing the reigns over to another young superstar desperate to win. It worked before, it certainly can again.

Oh, and just because he’s no spring chicken anymore, don’t think for one second Pat Riley doesn’t want to add more jewelry to his collection.

Out of all areas covered, this may be the most critical criteria for the team that land’s No. 35’s services.

Conclusion

While all signs are point to Durant signing a short-term deal with Oklahoma City through 2017, there’s no doubt that if he were to depart, Miami would be one of the prime destinations for the small forward.

The lure of sunny South Beach, the absence of state tax and the championship tradition of the Heat organization all sound plenty mouth-watering, and there’s no doubt Riley will be giving Durant’s agent a call, no matter the circumstance.

Whether Durant decides to call Miami home in the near future or not, he is the first big domino in the free agent sweepstakes, and whether he signs with the Heat or not, he affects their offseason plan regardless.

After all, this is free agency. Management and fans are allowed to dream, no matter how far-fetched.

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