It’s not clear how much the Miami Heat would have to give up to bring Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant to South Beach, but there’s no doubt that the 12-time All-Star on the roster will improve the team’s chances of an NBA -Victory would increase title.
At a performance on Stand upESPN analyst Jalen Rose went even further when imagining what the Heat would look like with Durant on the list, and according to the former NBA player, that would make almost every other team irrelevant.
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Rose said having Durant on the starting lineup alongside Heat star Jimmy Butler would make for one of the scariest duos in the league, but having the two-time Finals MVP work under the “best coach in the NBA” who isn’t Gregg Popovich — Erik Spoelstra, Miami could be unbeatable.
“The league is in trouble because the size of KD is now increasing with the best coach in the NBA,” said Rose said on Tuesday 19 July. “To put KD together with that leadership group and now suddenly the hunger he has for a franchise that won the championship before he got there on the Miami Heat, I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for him to take his advance your career.”
While things appear to be on hold while Miami and other competing teams work to send a monster offer to Brooklyn, ESPN analyst Adrian Wojnarowski reported on July 12 that Durant’s pursuit through the heat remains aggressive.
Hearing about these rumored trade packs can be unsettling for certain Heat players, particularly Tyler Herro, as it could mean they will soon be suitable for another team. However, forward Max Strus, the first Heat player to comment on the Durant sweepstakes this summer, is “excited” about the potential Blockbuster move.
During a visit to Heat’s youth camp at FTX Arena on Tuesday, “I’m trying not to get too into it,” Strus said of the Durant trade rumors, as reported by Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman. “Obviously you see it and people ask you about it. But I’ll wait for it to happen. If something happens, it happens. If something happens, it happens.”
“But yeah, how can you not want a guy like Kevin Durant? He’s a unique player and a great player in the game and one of the best of all time. I’m excited to see what happens and I hope the best for him and the best for our team. That’s all that really matters.”
While The Heat remains focused on Durant, ESPN’s NBA insider Kevin Pelton recently urged Miami to devote all of their time and energy to landing three-time Utah Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell instead.
“Durant turns 34 in September, which puts him in the same line as Miami starters Jimmy Butler (33 in September) and Kyle Lowry (36),” Pelton wrote. “In contrast, Mitchell, 25, would reset the Heat’s timeline and align it with center Bam Adebayo, 24. And if Miami doesn’t think the Nets will eventually trade Durant, this could be their best shot at landing a third star while Butler is in his late heyday.
Despite his age, Durant remains one of the best players in the NBA. Last season, the 6-foot-10 forward averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game while shooting 51.8% from the field and 38.3% from off the arc.
As for Mitchell, the 6-foot-1 guard averaged 25.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game last season.
CONTINUE READING: Donovan Mitchell sends message to Heat Star amid trade rumours
