The case for the Miami Heat
Similar to what is the case with the Suns, it’s difficult to predict what a potential trade package would ultimately look like from the Miami Heat. Though, in a perfect scenario, the Heat would like to keep Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo on the roster in any trade for Durant.
Under that assumption, we must expect any trade to include all future possible draft capital from the Heat, along with Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, Max Strus, Nikola Jovic, Omer Yurtseven, Duncan Robinson, and Gabe Vincent. Or, at the very least, some combination of the majority of those names.
Assuming all of those names are traded (whether that’s direct to the Nets or perhaps to a third team), that would leave the Heat will KD, Jimmy, and Bam – a similar big three to the Suns in terms of notoriety but one could argue that they’d be a more balanced combination of stars.
Bam would give their trio a versatile defender and offensive threat that the Suns wouldn’t have in their big three and a player who likely hasn’t even reached his potential. For as good as Booker and Paul is, I’m not sure we can say that for either of them.
Jimmy is Jimmy and is one of the best and most fierce competitors in the game. He’s also one of the best two-way wings in the league. At least on paper, the Heat would have a chance to not only be a problem offensively but also one of the best teams in the league defensive – no matter what the rest of the supporting cast looks like.
Plus, Erik Spoelstra is the best coach in the league and will go down as one of the 10 best, at least, coaches to ever step on a basketball court when his career is all said and done.
Miami also is one of the best developmental organizations in the league, so you would trust the coaching staff in finding a supporting cast that could help their big three.
As far as the competition in the Eastern Conference, it won’t be easy. The Milwaukee Bucks will be healthy and have added depth so far this offseason. The Boston Celtics will likely take another step forward and will be a problem. The same could be said about the Philadelphia 76ers who also added to their supporting cast this season.
It won’t be easy pickings for the Heat in the East even with Durant. But, they would have the necessary talent to win the East, especially considering they were one game short of doing that this season with a hobbled team this past season – and, without Durant.