Report: Heat ‘Absolutely’ to Pursue Kevin Durant in 2016
By David Ramil
It certainly isn’t a secret that Kevin Durant will be the most hotly-pursued NBA free agent in 2016. But the Miami Heat and, in particular, the team’s president of basketball operations Pat Riley, have a well-established history of luring free agents. A report by Sun Sentinel beat reporter Ira Winderman confirms that Riley has ‘absolutely’ targeted Durant next summer:
"“Could they make a move for Durant? Sure. Is Pat Riley plotting in that direction? Absolutely. But I think it will take a certain degree of tearing up the roster also and that’s why I think for a team that has traded away all of its first-round picks basically beyond 2021 and has limited resources, that Hassan Whiteside also could be a trade chip. That if the NBA does go to small ball and if the Heat can be comfortable with Bosh and McRoberts, which I really want to see in the preseason, then there’s a chance instead of waiting to pay Hassan Whiteside I could see if the Heat make a move like that and sort of cut their ties there to Whiteside at the trading deadline that will be an absolute signal that Pat Riley’s going all-in for Kevin Durant.”"
Starting with the obvious, Durant is going to be a target for all 30 NBA teams next season, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team most likely to lock up his services. For example, the Washington Wizards have made a number of moves to appeal to Durant and you can’t discount the appeal of playing near his hometown and challenging for a title in a weaker Eastern Conference.
But the situation with Miami should be of some concern, aside from Riley’s track record with big-time players.
The Heat, as Grantland’s Zach Lowe illustrated on Wednesday, will have “a ton” of salary cap space with just three players (Chris Bosh, Goran Dragic and Josh McRoberts) under contract.
"One star changes everything, and Riley gets stars. Next summer, Miami could open up nearly $40 million in cap room, and as much as $45 million if it moves McRoberts for extra cap space."
Joining a core (albeit somewhat aged) of Dragic and Bosh could be appealing to Durant; while Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook is far more dynamic than Dragic, the latter isn’t as ball dominant. Critics often point out that Westbrook’s style of play might be upsetting for Durant, although years of success would seem to disprove that. But, as for Bosh, he’s certainly a capable player and has the necessary experience of playing for and winning NBA championships.
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Still, the two biggest factors in Miami’s pursuit of Durant will be Hassan Whiteside and Dwyane Wade. Whiteside is the mystery here; after years of languishing and failing to reach his potential, he wind up producing at historically great levels for the Heat last season. But it was a relatively small sample size upon which to mortgage a team’s future. Whiteside has to prove that he can be consistently good and this season is his chance to do that.
If he should fail in that regard and, as Winderman point out, with the league shifting to smaller lineups, Whiteside could be used as a midseason trade piece to acquire other assets to appeal to Durant; plus, dealing away the young center means Miami won’t have to commit any money to re-sign him.
As for Wade, most would agree that he’s not going anywhere other than Miami at this point in his career. The Heat were tested this offseason with rumors that Wade was looking to sign elsewhere if he didn’t get the money or long-term commitment he was looking for. In the end, Riley re-signed his star player for a one-year deal worth $20 million that pays Wade well but gives the team the financial flexibility to add a future free agent, most notably Durant, as Lowe points out:
"Consider one example: Durant’s max salary for 2016-17 will be about $25 million, leaving $15 million or $20 million to split between Wade and Whiteside. That won’t do it, unless Wade takes a massive hometown discount. (By the way: Rail against the Durant rumor mill if you want, but you’re kidding yourselves if you don’t think Riley will set Miami up to make a run at him.)"
Factor in Florida’s lack of state income tax, the fact that Durant owned a home there as well as the bright lights and shimmering sand of South Beach, and you can see why the Heat must be reckoned with in 2016. But, ultimately, there’s Riley, who was able to sell LeBron James and Bosh on the promise of a title (which he delivered…twice) and an established culture of championship success, perhaps the one element missing from Oklahoma City.
Of course, all of this doesn’t matter if the Thunder win the title this season.
If they should fall short of that goal, however, it’s certainly something to consider next summer.