The Miami Heat are in the driver’s seat. They have a core, a superstar, and the ability to make moves, but they don’t have to overreact to anything.
The Miami Heat have all the chips in their corner right now. They don’t have to make a move on either of the two guys, regardless of who, which, or if either truly wants out of their situation.
There was the whole thing with Russ and the Miami Heat last season, but who’s to say that it’s still a thing with either side? We can only assume that Pat Riley would do his due diligence but at the same time, is the need for a guy like Westbrook as great now with what the Heat showed this past season?
I don’t believe so, especially at that price tag. What about a guy like James Harden though?
I can’t really see that happening either. Although the Miami Heat have been linked to Harden this offseason, he doesn’t fit what they like to do… at all and in the least bit.
The Miami Heat believe in ball and man movement. James Harden wants to stand still in the isolation.
The Miami Heat play a team brand of basketball, where James Harden plays a him brand of basketball. If he gets in a pinch, he kicks it out in a fluster to a teammate, hoping they can bail him out by hitting a three-point shot.
The philosophies don’t match. In fact, they are complete opposites of one another.
So, I guess it’s safe to say that I am against bringing in either. The Miami Heat don’t need them.
Outside of the obvious on-court reasons, you also look at the bloated salaries of each player. Then you think about how that impacts the team and their flexibility moving forward.
Either would leave them without any, practically. They would also probably be in the same scenario as the Rockets are and the Oklahoma City Thunder were in last season after just one season… looking to move mountains to get from up under the massive deal of either guy.
I am sure they will work things out in Houston, one way or another. Hopefully though, the Miami Heat won’t have anything to do with it… again… one way or another.