There's only one way the Miami Heat would reportedly be interested in trading for Anthony Davis, and it exists in a scenario where the team misses out on Giannis Antetokounmpo. In addition, as NBA insider Jake Fischer notes, it'd also have to come in a buy-low scenario.
But that's not just unique to the Heat. There aren't many teams in the league at the moment that are willing to go "all-in" for AD. At this stage of his career, and with his injury history, it just doesn't make sense for any team to put their prime assets on the table for AD.
The fact that he has just one year left on his contract after this season, before he can opt out, makes his trade value all the more complicated.
Specifically for the Heat, trading for AD could be viewed as an appealing scenario. When he's healthy, he's one of the best two-way players in the league. And based on their experience together during the Olympics, there's reason to believe that an AD-Bam Adebayo frontcourt duo could help terrorize the Eastern Conference.
But the Heat would only explore such a scenario at the right price. And not until they strike out on Giannis.
Heat is focused on Giannis Antetokounmpo
Especially with how the rumor mill has been churning of late, it's become abundantly clear that the Heat is laser-focused on their pursuit of Giannis. Whether it's a plausible scenario remains to be seen, but even if there is a small chance that the Heat could fork their way into the Giannis sweepstakes, it would be foolish to make a move that would jeopardize that.
Theoretically speaking, if the Heat trades for AD, they're probably not in the mix for Giannis.
The Heat's preference to remain patient in hopes of keeping their Giannis dreams alive isn't shocking by any means. It's something that they've maintained over the last few offseasons, even with the chance to land big-name players like Damian Lillard and Kevin Durant.
None of them are Giannis, who is a top 3 superstar in the league in the prime of his career.
Call the Heat foolish for putting all their eggs in the Giannis basket. That's a totally fair criticism for a franchise that has been burned by this same tactic in the past.
However, if the Heat is able to pull it off this time around, none of that matters.
So while a potential pursuit of AD is still a possibility for the Heat, it almost certainly won't come until there's some resolution, good or bad for the Heat, on the Giannis front. And that's probably the way it should be.