Miami Heat rumors: Donovan Mitchell availability opens opportunities
By Noah Decker
The Miami Heat have been after two stars this offseason: Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell. Certainly, the Heat want to go for the gold with Durant, but the Nets asking price is high right now.
They want an NBA All-Star and several picks in return. As a result, trade talks have not yet advanced.
As for Donovan Mitchell, the Heat have inquired about the budding superstar. However, they were shut down by the Utah Jazz, who insisted that they would be keeping Mitchell.
That might not be the case anymore. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Jazz have changed their mind about listening to trade offers. This opens the door for Miami to trade for Donovan Mitchell.
The Miami Heat would be one of Mitchell’s preferred destinations if he were to leave the Jazz. The Heat have the trade assets and the front office to make it happen.
The Miami Heat have been targeting Donovan Mitchell, who the Jazz revealed they are now open to trading. Here is how that opens up opportunities for Miami.
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Tyler Herro would likely be involved in the trade. Losing Herro would be a tough blow to the depth of Miami but gaining a young star like Mitchell would be a great addition.
That’s not the only good news for Miami. Mitchell becoming available helps Kevin Durant become more acquirable and here is how.
Durant is one of the top three players in the league. Acquiring him is extremely difficult, especially considering that the Nets are asking for an All-Star and the Heat are reluctant to break up their core of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
Mitchell is a little bit more attainable. He is also the exact type of player the Nets would be looking for. In the craziest of scenarios, the Heat could concoct a three-way deal that, somehow, nets them Durant and the Nets Mitchell.
There are many scenarios that could play out for the Miami Heat this offseason. The worst-case scenario is that they acquire no stars.
A good scenario is the Heat trading for Donovan Mitchell but being unable to acquire Kevin Durant. A great scenario would be if the Heat landed Kevin Durant but missed out on the Donovan Mitchell sweepstakes.
Although highly unlikely, the best-case scenario is the Heat landing both players. Contractually the last scenario could work, but the Heat would have to pull off some serious offseason magic.
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Plus, Ben Simmons being on the Nets makes trading difficult. It is worth noting that the Miami Heat have a history of working magic in the offseason though.
Perhaps, this could be the offseason where they do it again.