Miami Heat: Trio of summer trade window options who could curb future droughts

Are The Suns open on a Booker?

Whether it was trading for Jamal Mashburn, bringing in Rex Chapman and Derek Anderson, or drafting Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, it is no secret that team president Pat Riley has been fond of his Kentucky Wildcats alumni being under the Miami Heat umbrella.

Nevertheless, the one that got away, may be worth revisiting.

For various reasons—including already having Dwyane Wade—the Heat decided to pass on Devin Booker in favor of drafting Justise Winslow. Four and a half years later and that decision turned out to be a failure.

Like Beal, Booker’s individual statistics look great, but his team’s success is nonexistent.

Twice this year, Booker has wasted 40-point games on losses for the 24-38 Phoenix Suns. He is also almost two full seasons removed from declaring himself done with missing the playoffs. A feat that he will experience for the fifth time in a row.

Could that be enough to entice him into finally requesting a trade? If so, how many assets would Riley be ready to shed?

Acquiring Booker would surely require some sort of package that includes Herro. Which leads to a dilemma. The Heat could ignore the urge to engage with the Suns, banking on Herro becoming a Booker-type or they could bypass the future for an already polished product.

However, odds are the Suns will give coach Monty Williams at least another year of Booker and Deandre Ayton before hitting reset again.

So, in essence, Riley needs to take aim at a franchise and a scorer who both seem destined for a break.