NBA: Kevin Durant to Miami Heat in 2016? Hassan Whiteside Trade a Possibility?
The Miami Heat are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season and they made several moves to improve their roster this summer. And in 2016, the Heat are expected to be among the teams who will have a good chance to land big-name free agents on the market.
According to Zach Lowe of Grantland, the Heat are poised to make a strong offer to Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant, who is expected to become the most coveted free agent next offseason.
Sports Illustrated also reported in August that the Heat will be one of the teams who will make an aggressive push to sign Durant along with the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets.
Based on the way Miami bolstered their roster over the past several years, Lowe is convinced that the Heat, led by team president Pat Riley, will launch an aggressive pursuit of the 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player.
"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," Lowe wrote.
According to Lowe, the Heat could have as much as $40 million cap space next summer, which could increase if they will be able to move Josh McRoberts, who will earn $5.78 million in 2016 and $6.02 million in 2017.
Durant, who missed the majority of last season because of recurring foot issues, said last month that he is not yet thinking about his future. He insisted that he is focused on leading the Thunder in the upcoming season, but he is still being linked to a move out of Oklahoma City, especially if they fail to win the title in the 2015-16 season.
Heat Could Trade Hassan Whiteside
The Heat found a gem in Hassan Whiteside last season, but they could face a tough situation next summer when the 26-year-old center becomes a free agent.
With the Heat poised to make a run at big-name free agents like Durant, they could be forced to deal Whiteside because, according to the report, they do not hold full Bird rights on the three-year veteran.
According to Lowe, the Heat could decide to part ways with Whiteside, but it could also give them a chance to acquire another star who wants to move to South Beach next summer.
"Whiteside looms as a mammoth sign-and-trade chip if another star wants to strong-arm his way into Miami, though that requires some cap gymnastics and the cooperation of teams that could just sign Whiteside outright," Lowe said.
Whiteside, who will be earning $981K in the final year of his contract, averaged 11.8 points and 10.0 rebounds on top of 2.6 blocks in 48 games with the Heat last season.
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