The Miami Heat’s front office has taken more than their fair share of criticism over the past season or so. Dating back to about two years now, you specifically focus on the flurry of movement and rumors that have surrounded the Heat in that time frame.
Now, keep in mind that this is also a time frame that has included Jimmy Butler dragging this Miami Heat team to as close to the “promised land” as he could possibly get on several occasions without actually winning a title, having gone to a Game 7 against the Boston Celtics last season and taking this Heat team to the NBA finals during the bubble.
But back to that movement, where names like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Donovan Mitchell, and a few others were on the market to be had. And to continue with the theme of reiteration, that takes you back to the ire that the Miami Heat’s front office and decision-makers have taken in light of all of that.
Specifically though, when you look at one of the names above and that being Donovan Mitchell, there has been a bit of a new light shed on the incident.
NBA Rumors: Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell Price Was ‘Far Too Steep’ For Miami Heat
That new light shed on the situation comes a bit “after the fact”, but it is a new light, nonetheless. And that enlightenment comes from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Here’s what he had to say about the situation.
"According to a source, the Heat and Jazz spoke about Mitchell last summer, but Utah’s trade request was far too steep for Miami to consider. What the Jazz wanted back easily exceeded, in value, what Cleveland gave up: Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round draft picks and two pick swaps."
"Markkanen has blossomed this season but had never been an All-Star before this season. Sexton has never been an All-Star. Once Utah quickly indicated a high asking price, the Heat moved on."
Now again, it’s all water under the bridge at this point, meaning that it won’t happen while Mitchell is still under contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, which just so happens to be until after the 24-25 season for sure, in which he has a player option for the following season where he’ll be 29 but also—set to make just over $37 million dollars.
With the money being handed out in the league today and with new media deals always on the horizon, he’ll likely opt out but there’s also a chance he could stay. But none of that is even of great importance at this particular moment.
The Miami Heat Simply Were Determined To Not Be ‘Had’ By The Utah Jazz
What is important about all of this is this.
With the new pieces of information that have been shared by Jackson, it has to change perspectives. Basically, some of the blame that has been placed upon the Miami Heat for failing to be as aggressive as they possibly could have to attain Mitchell is unwarranted.
A lot of the criticism you often see surrounding any trade is a comparison based on the eventual trade package against what a reported offer may have been from any other team in particular. And the Miami Heat didn’t escape that themselves in this situation.
But what this report does is clear up that fact and in fact, perhaps, leans towards the Miami Heat’s intelligence. They weren’t going to be “had” by the Jazz and that’s just that.
Mitchell was eventually moved for a package that was much less than what they were asking for from the Miami Heat. And considering what Cleveland did eventually move for him, that must have been a massive ask.
And you just can’t blame the Heat for not being sure about a gamble of that magnitude.