Miami Heat willing to offer Dragic, Winslow for Kyrie Irving

According to a report, the Miami Heat are willing to trade Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow for Kyrie Irving, but that might not be enough.

While Miami Heat fans have debated about whether or not the team should trade for Kyrie Irving, you could imagine a similar argument happening in NBA front offices across the league. Irving is a player with super star potential, but a polarizing one nonetheless.

He plays a premium position, but he hasn’t proven to be able to do the things traditional point guards do at an elite level (like distribute and make his teammates better).

However, he is among the most electrifying talents in the league. A one-man offense. Someone who has the potential to be one of the best 10 players in the league if it all comes together.

Teams like the Heat have to ask themselves if it would come together for Irving in their town.

Then they have to come up with a price.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Heat are among several teams who have made an offer for Irving, including the San Antonio Spurs, LA Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. Miami is willing to include Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow in a deal.

"The Miami Heat are willing to part with Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow as centerpieces for an Irving trade, league sources said. With the Cleveland-Miami history, there’s little chance for a deal unless the Heat offered an overwhelming package."

Following ESPN’s report, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported that the Heat have not made an offer to Cleveland.

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Is it worth it for Miami?

Yes. After missing out on Gordon Hayward and then signing Dion Waiters, James Johnson and Kelly Olynyk to four year contracts, Miami’s only route to a super star is via trade. They won’t have the cap space for the next several summers, barring a major salary dump, and they don’t have very many draft picks.

Irving is a former no. 1 pick with super star potential–even if he’s not quite among the league’s elite just yet. He’s 25 years old, and is one of the most impressive finishers and 3-point shooters in the game. His handle sets him apart from most point guards. For whatever chemistry the Heat would be losing by dealing Dragic, you make that up in shear talent.

Winslow is a promising young player who is already an elite defender. The Heat would miss that. But the emergence of James Johnson makes him expendable. Could Winslow become an elite two-way wing down the road? Sure. But he’s coming off of a wrist injury and shoulder surgery, and his jump shot is a major problem. If you’re betting on one of these guys to be an elite player for several years, the smart money is on Irving.

Is it worth it for Cleveland?

This is the real question, and it’s probably not. While we’ve been surprised by what teams have gotten in return for stars in the past, I’d be floored if Dragic and Winslow was enough. Especially when you look at the other offers Cleveland could get. Phoenix and Minnesota could beat anything Miami had to offer easily.

But if Phoenix isn’t willing to toss in Josh Jackson, or are hesitant to offer young players like Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender because they don’t think Irving would stay after his contract expires in two years, then they don’t become such an enticing trade partner.

Same goes for Minnesota if they aren’t willing to part with Andrew Wiggins, who is also a 20-point scorer but also has the two-way potential Irving doesn’t.

If this is the case, Miami could be in the mix. A deal of Dragic, Winslow, Wayne Ellington, and one of Josh Richardson, Tyler Johnson or a 2023 first round pick (the only pick Miami can trade, due to the Stepien rule), in exchange for Irving and Iman Shumpert’s contract may be the best the Heat can offer.

Next: ESPN insider believes Heat will land Irving

Is it enough for Cleveland? Who knows. A lot of variables at that point come into play. But if you’re Miami, you at least give them the decision to make. Who knows when a player of Irving’s talent will be available again.