The Miami Heat are not optimistic they can pull of a trade for disgruntled Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving, even if they wanted to.
Kyrie Irving wants out of Cleveland and listed the Miami Heat as one of his preferred destinations. However, as of now, the Heat aren’t optimistic they would be able to get a deal done.
According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, Miami doesn’t believe they have the assets the Cavaliers are looking for.
Cleveland reportedly wants back a “blue-chip” young player as well as other assets, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe.
The Heat can’t put together a package that would satisfy those needs. Justise Winslow, for as much promise as he has, isn’t a sure thing as he comes off an injury-plagued season and two years of sub-par shooting. They also don’t have a first-round pick available to trade until 2023, having traded two future firsts for Goran Dragic in 2015.
As Jackson writes, even if the Heat are interested (and we don’t know if, or how much, they are), they aren’t optimistic they can pull of a trade.
"Regardless of the Heat’s level of interest – and Miami always inquires when a star player is available – the Heat at this point does not view a deal as very likely, barring a change of heart by Cleveland. Miami’s best chance would be if suitors with more appealing assets can’t strike a deal and the Cavaliers circle back to Miami."
It’s unclear who the other suitors for Irving may be. There has been speculation about teams such as Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks.
Irving also listed the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Timberwolves as desirable destinations.
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Most of those teams mentioned could put packages together–depending on what players and assets they are willing to include–that would beat anything Miami could offer.
The Suns could offer Eric Bledsoe (who is represented by the same agency as LeBron James), Jared Dudley and, the No. 4 pick this year, Josh Jackson. If they’re willing to include their stud rookie.
The Bucks could offer, as Lowe writes, Khris Middleton, Malcolm Brogdon and two, unprotected, first-round picks. If they’re willing to include those future assets.
The Nuggets could offer Gary Harris, Jamal Murray and Wilson Chandler, if they’re willing to sell two promising young guards this early in their careers.
And what if the Timberwolves offered Andrew Wiggins? Wiggins fits well next to LeBron and, as a 20-plus point scorer, would help fill the void left by Irving. Cleveland could also control him for the foreseeable future by offering him an extension. A deal that sends Wiggins, Gorgui Dieng and Cole Aldrich to the Cavs for Irving and Iman Shumpert is better than a combination of Dragic and Winslow.
Next: The Cavs are asking for too much for Kyrie Irving
All these teams need to ask themselves what Irving is worth, and if they feel they can win a championship with him as their numero uno. If no one steps up with a satisfactory deal, Cleveland could come back to the Heat and lower their price. But, as of now, that’s the only way Irving lands in Miami.