The Miami Heat may have already made their biggest swing by trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the idea of stacking another superstar on top of that has run into a wall.
Kevin Durant was floated as a possible next target, and on paper, the fit is easy to dream about. Durant is still one of the greatest players the NBA has ever seen, and even if he’s not quite the same force he was a few years ago, he remains an elite scorer who can bend a defense on his own. Put him next to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, and the talent level would be absurd.
The problem is simple: Miami does not have much left to work with. The Heat still have some players they could move, so nothing is completely off the table, but any blockbuster from here would require real creativity. And according to one recent assessment, Durant is probably too expensive for them to chase seriously.
“With all that, the Heat, who made a clear move to contend, need either more depth or star power. The one move that made sense for the Heat getting another star was former Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant due to his low asking price.
The asking price that is tied to Durant is likely much higher. With the Heat unloading almost all of their valuable trade assets in the deal for Antetokounmpo becomes almost impossible,” Gray Deyo wrote.
That doesn’t mean Miami is done exploring options. It just means the Durant path looks like a long shot right now. The Heat may have to look in a few different directions from here, though they should still be able to add useful pieces as they continue shaping the roster around their new core.
In Other News...
Heat Fans Just Got The Answer On Khris Middleton Pursuit
Khris Middletons next move is now clear, and it does not send him to Miami. The veteran wing has agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with the Washington Wizards, a transaction reported by ESPNs Shams Charania that also ties in the Dallas Mavericks and closes the door on a pursuit that had lingered around the league.
For the Wizards, it is another step toward building a veteran core they believe can push into the Eastern Conference playoff race. Middleton is heading back to Washington after playing parts of the last two seasons there, giving the team a familiar piece as it tries to stabilize its rotation and add more proven depth. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Riley Just Sent Heat Fans A Conflicting Bobby Portis Message
After the trade that brought Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami, Pat Riley made it clear he sees Portis as more than a throw-in. The Heat president publicly praised Portis as one of the best power forwards in the league, a notable endorsement for a player whose game has long been defined by energy, scoring touch and a willingness to do the dirty work.
Portis arrives with a reputation for efficient offense after a season in which he produced 14 points and 6 rebounds while shooting 49% overall and 47% from three. The question for Miami is whether that production can translate into the kind of all-around impact the Heat will need, especially with the defensive concerns that have followed him and are unlikely to disappear just because the jersey changed. [Read more 🡒]