Though The Miami Heat Would Have Work To Do, They Could Find A Way To Do It
The Miami Heat missed out on the Kevin Durant sweepstakes this offseason, mainly because the desired package for the superstar was so large that no team was willing to give up the assets to acquire him.
Putting Together Trade Package
It likely would have cost the Heat Bam Adebayo and all of their draft picks to trade for Durant, and the Heat were reluctant to depart with their All-Star big man. Rightfully so, as Adebayo has since exploded offensively this season.
The Heat also missed out on acquiring Donovan Mitchell this summer. In this case, the Heat did not have as many draft picks or as much compensation to offer as other competing teams.
Even though LeBron James is still a top-ten player in the NBA, in theory, trading for him should not be as difficult as it was to trade for Durant or Mitchell. Durant was in the middle of a contract and Mitchell is a young superstar with the same contract situation.
James, on the other hand, is a 38-year-old, with a player option at the end of next season. Although he is still playing at an elite level, it seems unreasonable that a player of this age would require the same assets to be traded as a younger superstar.
The Lakers have a little less leverage in this case. So, what would a Miami Heat trade offer look like?
The trade starts with offering all their first-round picks and either Kyle Lowry or Duncan Robinson. The Lakers will then probably ask for Tyler Herro.
That is where negotiations might get difficult, as Miami will probably not want to give up their young budding star. Additionally, trading Herro would be difficult due to his recent contract extension.