NBA Rumors: Miami Heat Will Try, But Unlikely To Make Serious Run At Kevin Durant

NBA Rumors: The Miami Heat will likely pursue Kevin Durant next summer, but they’re unlikely to be serious suitors

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Pat Riley might’ve pulled off the biggest heist in NBA history, by getting LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade to all sign in Miami in 2010, but there’s a slim-to-no chance that he’ll be able pull it off again next summer.

That doesn’t mean he won’t try, though.

Kevin Durant is slated to hit unrestricted free agency next summer and the thought is that he will likely test the market, which opens the door for teams like Miami to get in on the Durant lottery. However, because of cap issues, even with the projected jump in salary cap next summer, the Miami Heat would need a miracle in order to land Durant. Either that, or they will likely have to part ways with one of their key cogs.

In layman’s terms, they’re either going to need Dwyane Wade to take a major pay cut – if this summer was any indication, don’t bet on that – or they’re simply going to have to let Hassan Whiteside walk.

"[via Grantland]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. That’s a ton, but if Whiteside has even a solid season, it’s not enough to bring back both Whiteside and Wade while signing an outside star; the Heat will not have full Bird rights on Whiteside, meaning they will have to dip into cap space to re-sign him.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.)"

Of course, they could always let Wade walk, but I’m not sure that sends an appealing message to Durant. And Wade needs to be in the plan of recruitment if the Heat are going to have a chance at closing Durant, as he did with LeBron and Bosh in 2010.