Miami Heat: Whacky 4-team fake trade to become best squad in the East

MIAMI, FL - APRIL 9: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a photo prior to a game against the Miami Heat on April 9, 2019 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 9: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a photo prior to a game against the Miami Heat on April 9, 2019 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – APRIL 9: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a photo prior to a game against the Miami Heat on April 9, 2019 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – APRIL 9: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a photo prior to a game against the Miami Heat on April 9, 2019 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

It’s been a crazy off-season for the Miami Heat already with multiple blockbuster trades, but what if the biggest one is yet to come?

The Miami Heat have pulled off the Houdini act this offseason by acquiring Jimmy Butler via a four-team sign and trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers but according to every media outlet, they’re not finished yet. Now that we’ve all had a taste, we’re waiting to see if Heat team president Pat Riley can pull off the David Blaine act next.

After the dust settled from all the free agent action for the Brooklyn Nets by David Copperfield, I mean Sean Marks, the rest of the NBA has turned its sights to the Miami Heat thinking surely they didn’t sign Jimmy Butler for him to run it solo. So far this summer, the Heat have been linked to John Wall and Bradley Beal, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and now Kevin Love.

It’s getting a bit ridiculous after Riley missed out on Westbrook for refusing to include Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro in the deal with Oklahoma City. Most of Heat Nation knows the media just wants to see Miami wheeling and dealing, forgetting that Chris Paul makes a lot of money.

Let’s just take a sip of the national media Kool-Aid for this one, dive in head first, and see just how far the rabbit hole goes. Strap in. Keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times. The Miami Heat are about to become a contender.

We’re going to break down a blockbuster four-team fake trade that could happen between the Miami Heat, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Washington Wizards.

The terms of the deal

Miami Heat receive:

Chris Paul

Kevin Love

Bradley Beal

The Heat’s own 2021 first round pick back from the Oklahoma City Thunder

Cleveland Cavaliers receive:

Justise Winslow

Kelly Olynyk

Dion Waiters

Yante Maten

2020 second round pick from the Wizards

Washington Wizards receive:

J.R. Smith

Goran Dragic

James Johnson

Duncan Robinson

2020 first round pick from Miami

Oklahoma City Thunder receive:

John Wall

Derrick Jones Jr.

2022 first round pick from Cleveland

I bet you weren’t prepared for that one, were you?

Let’s take some time to analyze why each team might participate in such a wild trade, starting with the Miami Heat.