It's been over a year since rumors surfaced of the Miami Heat's interest in Kevin Durant when he becomes a free agent next summer. Then those rumors were reiterated last summer. And again in September.
It's clearly no surprise that Pat Riley would be interested in acquiring one of the best players in the league. Where it gets sticky is the moves they would have to make to even make this a possibility -- moves that would mainly involve their two key free agents: Dwyane Wade and Hassan Whiteside. From the Miami Herald:
One thing is clear: The Heat intend to make a long-shot bid to lure Durant, who sold his Miami condo earlier this year.
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For Miami to be able to make a competitive bid for Durant, the Heat would need to either pass on signing Whiteside; or trade McRoberts, somehow get Whiteside at something closer to $10 million for 2016-17 (that’s not happening), cajole Wade to take less than $10 million and fill out the roster with cheap labor.Even if Wade left, Miami likely couldn't afford Durant if Whiteside commanded a starting salary at close to the max.The Heat could (wink-wink) promise Wade that it would take care of him with a bigger salary in 2017-18 (when the cap is projected to rise to $108 million) and in 2018-19 ($127 million projection).
If Kevin Durant agrees to come to Miami, the Heat will probably live with Whiteside walking. They can get another center who chases blocks and rebounds. The Wade scenario is of note. With a chance at adding his fourth title, would Wade take another discount? Wade wanted a big-money contract this summer from the team he's sacrificed earnings for in the name of bringing titles to South Beach in the past, but instead the Heat played hardball before both sides came to a mutually acceptable one-year deal. Even if the Heat signed Durant, Wade might want the big money just based on principle.
With or without Wade, a combination of Durant and Justise Winslow on the wing is a scary combo for years to come, especially with Chris Bosh at the small-ball four spot. Pat Riley always finds ways to get himself meetings with key free agents and can be persuasive. But will that be enough to get Miami into what is seen as a two-team race for Durant in Washington and OKC?
Hard to say this early, but I wouldn't count Riley out. He's got the track record of big moves to back up the talk.
