It's been a while since the Miami Heat felt as close to landing a certified NBA star as they seem to perhaps getting Kevin Durant now.
However, while the scoring savant could give a welcome jolt to this often frustratingly inconsistent offense, it's not like they'd walk away from a blockbuster trade with a perfect roster in hand. Not when they'd still be without the kind of natural, playmaking point guard needed to tie everything together.
Durant couldn't solve Miami's problems at point guard.
The Heat, to be clear, needs everything Durant has to offer. Few players in the history of this league have been better equipped to address a scoring shortage.
Tyler Herro, a first-time All-Star, just paced the Heat with a career-high 23.9 points per game. For context, that same scoring output would rank as the second-worst of Durant's career. The 26.6 points he supplied the Phoenix Suns with this past season—a hair below his normal contribution—would tie for the eighth-highest in Heat franchise history, per StatHead Basketball.
Again, though, scoring isn't Miami's biggest issue on offense. The Heat need a true table-setter in the worst kind of way. No one on this roster averaged even six assists this past season; 27 players around the league did.
The Heat have tried to address this shortage in different ways. They've upped the on-ball responsibilities on Herro. They regretfully gave up a future first to get Terry Rozier ahead of the 2024 trade deadline.
It was quite telling, though, that their most dynamic player at point guard this past season was basically a throw-in to the Jimmy Butler trade: Davion Mitchell, who's played for three different teams over the past two seasons. Oh, and now he has restricted free agency awaiting him, and it might not be in Miami's best interest to cover that cost.
For all of the attention the Heat are understandably giving Durant, they should be just as focused on finding a floor general. That's not Herro's game, Rozier has been a mess in Miami and Mitchell has never been labeled as such—sizzling stretch run be damned.
A prolific, high-level passer could have an even greater impact on this offense than Durant. The Heat have several three-point marksmen who could erupt alongside the right drive-and-kick distributor. A lead guard with great vision and passing touch might also be what helps fully unlock Bam Adebayo's offense and takes full advantage of Kel'el Ware's unique blend of finishing and stretch-shooting.
The Heat shouldn't be hopeless on offense. Even without Durant. They have capable net-shredders on the roster; they just need the right ball-mover to put them in the right places.
Durant can do a lot of things on the hardwood, but he isn't doing that.