The Heat could try to improve their bargaining power in a potential Kevin Durant trade by negotiating with the Thunder to remove protections on the 2025 first-round pick owed to OKC, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
If Oklahoma City agrees to accept the pick with no lottery protection, Miami will be free to offer Brooklyn first-rounders in 2023, 2027 and 2029 without violating the Stepien rule. Teams aren’t permitted to trade draft picks that are more than seven years away, but the Heat could also include pick swaps in 2024, 2026 and 2028.
Chiang says the Heat are in a “holding pattern” as they wait for the next step in the Durant drama. They haven’t made any moves since reaching agreements to re-sign Dewayne Dedmon and Victor Oladipo shortly after free agency began Thursday afternoon.
The Nets can’t acquire Bam Adebayo as long as Ben Simmons is on the roster and the Heat would prefer to keep Jimmy Butler, so any trade offer would have to be built around Tyler Herro. Chiang notes that Herro, Duncan Robinson and Kyle Lowry are sufficient to match salary, while inexpensive players such as Gabe Vincent, Max Strus and Omer Yurtseven could be added to sweeten the offer. It’s unlikely that would be enough to interest the Nets, who reportedly have received interest in Durant from more than half the league.
League rules prevent Miami from trading Dedmon or Oladipo until December 15, while first-round pick Nikola Jovic, who signed his rookie contract today, can’t be included in a trade for 30 days.
There’s more from Miami:
- Haywood Highsmith received a $50K guarantee on his 2022/23 salary by remaining on the roster past Friday’s deadline, Chiang adds. The second-year small forward joined the Heat in late December on the first of three 10-day contracts, then was given a standard deal in March.
- Highsmith has an opportunity for a larger role next season after P.J. Tucker‘s departure to Philadelphia, Chiang notes in a separate story. Highsmith, who scored 11 points in today’s Summer League opener, is working to model himself after Tucker as a three-and-D player.
- Jovic is still adjusting to the speed of the NBA game and that was evident in today’s debut, per Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. He made just 1 of 6 shots and grabbed three rebounds in 21 minutes of action. “I know he wanted to play better,” said Summer League coach Malik Allen. “I just think it was moving really fast. I told him just to keep his head up. He was frustrated. That learning curve is going to continue to be there for him.”
Herro has little trade value because Nets are at luxury tax land next season
Lowry, Robinson and draft picks for Durant.
Both Lowry and Robinson are top tier overpaid contracts next 2 seasons. 3 Draft picks are compensation
@Sillivan
What does the lux tax have to do with Herro? Wouldn’t Durant and Irving be off the books by then?
Durant for 3 players
Nets 2023-24 new salary
Herro $30 million
Lowry $30 million
Robinson $18 million
3 players $78 million
Durant $46 million
Nets have additional $32 million payroll
Why should the Nets Pay additional $32 million payroll?’
Taking out Herro is a good idea.
Hero doesn’t make $30M per year and never will
Assumption
4-year $100 million
Nets still need to pay additional $27 million
I would have agreed last week, but Simons getting what he got means Herro and Poole will get a lot more than what they would have probably been worth realistically, like Booker did when he signed his original extension…
Sillyman, you really think that’s fair compensation for Durant? The Nets can’t do better? Yikes.
It seems that Nets are collecting overpaid contracts to pay huge luxury tax
Joe Harris
Westbrook – can’t shoot
Simmons – can’t shoot
Lowry
Robinson
Nets are trying to dump Harris contract on Lakers in KYRIE trade… Nets would keep Curry 8.5M on books. Believe Nets will play hardball on this one…Actually win -win for both teams… Nets are fine dumping KYRIE/ may get # 1 pick to take Westbrook…. Actually if Lebron holds KYRIE accountable, Lakers need talent…. PLEASE NOTE: AD, Lebron, KYRIE BIG TIME POTENTIAL INJURY RISK …
Westbrook won’t be a Net.
No way would they deal KD for Lowry, Robinson and picks.
I don’t se how that’s enough w Herro as the headliner and less than the full house of packages (4 picks 3 swaps)
Don’t think they’d want the Robinson /Lowry money either. Don’t even see this a contending offer really
Yup. Especially when Phoenix can (and I imagine will) offer up Ayton-Bridges + more picks. You could convince me that both Ayton and Bridges are better than Herro.
And that’s just confining the competing offers to KD’s “list” – never mind what I’m sure other clubs could and would offer.
And that’s not even mentioning the fact that Robinson and Lowry’s contracts are neutral value, if not negative value. Not like they’re going to be able to flip either in Feb for another 1st or two.
Nets should just keep Durant. He can’t go anywhere.
Lakers need to save luxury tax by sending Westbrook to Nets for Irving
Heat are doing the same by dumping Robinson and Lowry salary for Durant
Nets aren’t fools. What the Lakers “need” isn’t their problem.
Still not much of a fan of the Heat pick, although there were only a couple of other guys on the board at that moment, so it’s not awful or anything…I just think for what the situation is with PJ, and also still needing another option at that position, EJ Liddell made the most sense.
The Heat are going to have to work a lot with Jovic in multiple areas. You can tell he grew from being smaller b/c you can see there are times he isnt used to using his length at the rim offensively. They need to work on his left hand finish. They need to work on him being a ball stopper. He has to bring more energy defensively, as that has been an issue. His defensive stance is way too high. He has shown some potential as a help defender in certain situations, but there are also times where his awareness isnt there, and his athleticism isn’t great. He lets way too many guys just blow by him. I’m not actually sure what position he plays, but he might be a useful spot up shooter for now
Summer league is going to be a big deal for Jovic to see what he has improved since his season ended, and also what they’ve been able to show him just this week. They’re going to give him opportunities to be himself, and playmake for now. I want to see what positions he is in defensively, how much he stops the ball, and what kind of energy he brings…I do really love the confidence he plays with
Going to watch today’s game in a bit, and see what he at least looked like, with a couple of the Heat’s main guys not being available until Vegas
Summer league is fun to watch…. Fast pace… by the end of Vegas summer league gives you insight of strengths / weaknesses
Ya I watch every game every single year…like 80 games worth. This is 1 way to learn the full skillsets of players that could potentially be contributors, and I usually keep that in mind for years. Last year, I tried to write everything down instead of keeping it in my head, and my computer messed up, and I lost the entire list, and it took me months to recover from that lol
Normally it’s not too difficult, and I can watch 2 or 3 games at once, but my eyes have got worse the last couple of years and I struggle to watch 1 with the details I normally would, so when that happened, I pretty much wanted to take the year off…still, I’m going to watch all of these
…so it’s only the first game, and I’m only early into the 2nd quarter right now, but I see a lot of the things I was talking about, and a little more worrisome defensively than I was already saying, in terms of awareness off ball, and just knowing positioning. He seemed lost, and like he doesnt know what to do at all. Could be nerves, but he seemed awkward out on the floor
Secondly, offensively I saw the same things i saw while scouting. Going left to the rim, and the way he tries to finish, he isnt used to his length. He had a moment in the 1st quarter that was an instant replay of what I had seen on the scouting videos
Obviously, first game, but I think tomorrow is an even bigger test against more guys that are NBA type of players/close than he matched up against today. Point being, they have a lot of work to do with this guy, and I’m not sure they should have signed him. He might have been better off as a stash guy
Didnt they already have protections removed last year? Thought they could already offer 2023, 2027, and 2029 with swaps in between…
Lowry, Herro, Strus the 3 picks, and the swaps, and potentially Jovic is the most they can possibly offer.
Heat bring back Dragic in that scenario, and give Caleb Martin most of their midlevel, similar to the ph offer, which hopefully they do with or without KD b/c FA is waning thin…then sign Millsap, and another wing shooter. If no KD, keep Caleb, sign Millsap, and another one of the few remaining 4s, and that’s pretty much all they can do
His asking places are Phoenix and the Heat, but would Phoenix give up Mikail Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, Dario Saric, 3 1st round picks for KD? What would he be even coming to at that point? He and Chris Paul would be on an island alone defensively. You could try to add pieces around that with what’s left out there, but there isnt that much without getting creative…
If anything, I think there are a few other spots that make more sense/have arguably more than the Heat to give up. Okc is an obvious one, Spurs, even though they just moved Dejonte Murray, who could have been part of this, New Orleans, Golden State, and Toronto all have really interesting offers they could make. For me, I think the Heat actually have a legit shot at this…
That being said, if I’m Brooklyn, I have him for 4 years. I’m not trading him anyway. They’re building a pretty good roster around Durant and Simmons, and obviously its possible Steve Nash just screws it up again, but I still think staying healthy, they theoretically have things they can do, and as an organization, how are we under pressure to trade someone b/c they asked, after FA already has started
The deals you could get for him are for sure a lot, and you could still put together a really strong roster, but I’m not just taking anything. It has to be a lot, like the 2 types of deals I mentioned
Agree, Heat need to keep Caleb Martin at any cost, and resign Goran Dragic.. AGREE, KD, BOOKER, CP3 not enough, stripped away all the depth…KD & CP3 are exhausted the longer they go in playoffs, need depth. Sarver, PHX won’t go in luxury tax… HEAT in KD trade would be KD, BAM, JIMMY remaining, resign Martin, Get Dragic minimum contract, remaining role players not traded…
If I recall correctly, they previously owed OKC a 2023 pick that was protected through 2026, and changed it to a 2025 pick that’s protected through 2026.
So, they freed up the 2023 pick to trade, but because of the one-year protection on the traded ’25 pick, they can’t trade the ’27 pick outright.
Ya I forgot they moved it down the road…so theh will have to figure something out. Heat can send out cash, and maybe that works, b/c I dont see anything they can do roster wise
What would Durant be coming to in Phoenix? I mean, I think Chris Paul and Devon Booker, arguably the best backcourt in the league last year. I don’t think that’s significantly different than him going to Miami.
Phoenix would need to scrap together an interior defense, but Miami would need to scrap together a backcourt.
I’ll agree the Heat have a shot to the extent Durant is willing to push his way exclusively there.
Toronto to me makes the most sense if they were to give up Barnes + picks; that’s probably the best return Brooklyn could get that would still send KD to a roster that could still ostensibly contend.
Toronto shouldnt give up Barnes or OG. The whole point would be to pair Durant with them, and I included them b/c I still think they have to get a potential deal done without those 2 guys
Phoenix without bridges, cam johnson, crowder/Torrey Craig, saric is not as good as the Heat would be in the trade scenario presented, at least with limited options in FA to replace them. You said they would have to put together a backcourt, but the whole reason they could put Lowry and Herro in a deal is they have other pieces there…
Oladipo, Robinson, Butler, KD, Bam
Dragic, Caleb, Millsap, wing shooter/Vincent/highsmith, Yurtseven/Dedmon
Again, I dont think the Heat are the best option, nor do they have the best package. I just dont think Phoenix presents their best package, and it comes down to the other teams I mentioned, and there is an argument to be made to narrow it down even more to probably Toronto, New Orleans, and maybe still GS (I think the rookie scale thing effects them as well, but I might be wrong)…so to me, its between those teams and the Heat
I also said that if I’m the Nets, I’m still not even trading him b/c if my coach doesnt screw it up again, and the roster stays healthy, my team might just be as good, if not better than those same other teams would be, and I have him for 4 years. If 1 of those teams presents offers like I mentioned, including versions of that from Toronto and New Orleans, and also GS, then I consider it b/c I can still put together a strong team and replenish assets, but I’m not forcing anything
Miami’s offer would be underwhelming. Cavs can and possibly should offer
Sexton Markkanen okoro Osman and two 1sts with 2 swaps
Cavs would get kd and Joe Harris
Why would the Nets do that? Only two firsts and no good players
Herro and debt for Durant? Insane!!
He doesn’t fit in Miami now….
And not really wanted either
He works better on his own te-I-am
Nets should trade Durant to Toronto
Highsmith had three 10 day contracts last season, not three Two-way contracts
I think regardless of what the Heat do at the 4, and also hopefully bringing back Caleb, with only a couple of fallback options unless they find 1-2 contributors in summer league, Hifhsmith will likely keep his spot b/c it’s hard to see them upgrading there outside of those few options remaining, and a lot of them are arguably not upgrades on him
I think he is a 3/4. He has looked good in his small sample with the Heat, especially when the covid situation happened. He could theoretically be one of those options for them in those positions they need, but obviously you feel better about it with him as depth
As a Heat fan, if they don’t get KD, it’s ok… Upgrade roster as best as possible..1) bring back Caleb Martin on 3 yr contract 2) need back up point guard( Dragic, or veteran) 3) need power forward, Trade for Crowder, or possible free agent… JOVIC, needs to get used to NBA pace of game… by end of Vegas summer league his offensive skills will be evident… HEY, JOVIC is only 19, playing in a foreign country, new fast pace league, language issues… in training camp will need to work on defensive skills…HEAT can sit back and see if Donovan Mitchell or Damian Lillard will become available… love for HEAT to get Patrick Beverly if bought out…. Enjoy the 4th!
Dragic only makes sense if they trade Herro. They dont need another guard. They need 2 guys at the 4 (preferably 1 of whom that can also play some small ball 5), and either Caleb on the wing or someone that can replace him as a playmaking wing that can defend, and hopefully shoot enough
I dont see how they can trade for Crowder. They dont have the ability to match salaries without giving up something imperative, and if I’m Phoenix, I’m not giving him up either, unless I get back someone that does similar things to him, or a 5 that can defend pick and roll, and potentially shoot it
I dont think there is any reason for them to try to trade for Mitchell, who Utah probably isnt trading anyway. It makes no sense for this current roster
The Heat offer is trash compared to what Toronto or Suns can pull together.
So funny to read these trade offers, Wolves wanted Durant but wouldn’t include Towns or Edwards, Heat want Durant but Herro is the top player they’ll offer
Haywood Highsmith… Carver HS
The White Shadow
Could formerlyz blather on for longer please. There’s still memory left on my device.
Anyone want to summarize?
Jovic is on the right team. He’s got NBA talent. Stretch 4 with toughness. Great pick.