The Miami Heat may be in the business to make a trade before the February 9th trade deadline and with that, there is one particular star that has made it known, and oh so publicly, that he wishes to be moved from his current situation.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last day or so, then you know that this guy is Kyrie Irving. The enigmatic point guard finally decided to strike back against the Brooklyn Nets, it seems, over a tumultuous last couple of years by declaring that he would like to be traded before the trade deadline.
And in the midst of a season where his team, the Brooklyn Nets, are thought to be amongst the contenders in the NBA for the title, while their record shows that to be true as well, he is locked in on his request.
But with all of that in mind and when it comes to the Miami Heat, it’s a very murky scenario and for a few reasons. But, what does clarity on the situation look like?
Miami Heat Could Win With Kyrie Irving… But At What Cost?
Here’s what the latest reports suggest.
"The Nets would be interested in Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, or Tyler Herro coming to Brooklyn in a potential Irving trade. Miami would prefer to move off Kyle Lowry, who’s owed $29.7 million next season. While Pat Riley has never shied away from a talented but controversial player in the past, it’s hard to logistically see how Miami can acquire Irving."
And that sounds about right, based on all that’s ever been seen or heard from that Heat side. But here’s the real view of it all, from a point-blank perspective.
If you are Miami Heat, you have to consider a deal, however, you don’t want to have to give up either of the three desired guys mentioned to do so.
With that part out of the way though, whatever you may find yourself having to give up, it’s going to be a massive package, especially if it includes future assets like draft picks or young talent, such as Nikola Jovic.
But then there’s another thought built off of that. It involves ramifications, so to speak.
If Miami Heat Send What It Will Take To Land Kyrie, It’s To Sign Him Up Longer
Because you would have to send out so much as the Miami Heat would to attain Irving, that sends a clear message to everyone involved if they do. It would, absolutely, mean that they’d want to hold onto Irving beyond just this year.
Again, the cost would be too expensive for him to essentially be just a rental. That means you would probably sign him up for a contract of three or four years.
A core of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Irving puts you in the Eastern Conference Finals for at least three of those four years, if not all four, and you definitely win, at least, one NBA title in the process.
The only issue is the volatility that Kyrie Irving has shown over the past two years and it would worry you about the Miami Heat being able to sustain that. There’s also the factor of if his act and if said act would wear thin in Miami, especially on guys like Riley, Spo, and Jimmy Butler.
Other than that though, you pull the trigger. If you can get the deal done for guys outside of Butler, Adebayo, and Herro, you just have to.