Miami Heat prefer not to trade Bam and Herro for Russell Westbrook

As Russell Westbrook trade discussions go on between the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder, it seems Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro will not be moved.

Trade discussions between the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder are ongoing as they discuss a package for All-Star Russell Westbrook, and it looks as though some of what the Heat are willing to include has come out.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, they would prefer not to include Bam Adebayo or this year’s first round pick Tyler Herro in the deal:

"The Heat and Thunder have been discussing potential combinations of players, and those specifics remain unknown. But indications are the Heat would prefer not to include Bam Adebayo or Herro."

While Herro still  remains unsigned, presumably for maximal flexibility in case a deal cannot be done without him because a signed rookie cannot be moved for 30 days, his current status doesn’t appear to be an indication that such a deal is imminent.

Herro’s strong showing in the Las Vegas Summer League is exciting for the Miami Heat, so the fact that the organization is invested in keeping him is encouraging.

As for Adebayo, he forced his way into the starting lineup last season and supplanted Hassan Whiteside at center and entering his third season is one of the more promising young big men in the NBA. Keeping him should be a priority for the Heat as well.

The Miami Heat indicating that their two most exciting young players are likely going nowhere suggests that they are not planning on going all-in for Russell Westbrook, which is reasonable considering he will enter his age-31 season in 2019-20 and is owed $171 million over the next four years. Maintaining youth and flexibility over the next few years appears to be important to the organization.

As for what the Heat might actually have to pay up for Russell Westbrook, the market for his services may not be expansive, which could keep the cost reasonable. Jackson suggests the list of teams may not be particularly long:

"The Heat has been uncertain whether there are other Westbrook suitors; none have surfaced publicly."

If the Heat are the only team who is serious about trading for Westbrook, there is no need to bid against themselves in their pursuit of him, and thus much less incentive to make Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro available.

Whether or not the Thunder end up having to actually treat a trade involving Russell Westbrook like a salary dump, the conditions surrounding this potential trade seem to be growing more favorable for the Miami Heat as time goes on.