Q: Ira, if the Kevin Durant trade had waited until after the NBA Finals (which it should have on the day of Game 7 of the NBA Finals), would the Heat have put in more, now that Tyrese Haliburton is out for next season? – Hal.
A: A fair question, but also one with many layers. First, even had Tyrese Haliburton not tore his Achilles and had the Pacers won, I’m still not sure that a fourth-place Indiana team would have been viewed as the team to beat in the East. Further, as I wrote in my column Monday, I think the Heat should have offered more, anyway, including Kel’el Ware and/or Nikola Jovic. And, yes, in an East that next season likely will lack Haliburton, Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard, even a move as subtle as Durant could have dramatically changed the Heat calculus. As it is, the Knicks still don’t have a coach, the Magic have to work in Desmond Bane, and the Cavaliers have to deal with their second-round ouster. So, yes, a single day could have made a significant difference. My thought is that the Heat could have afforded to offer more to get a deal done. But they didn’t. And then Haliburton went down.
Q: So the Heat aren’t trading Kel’el Ware and they’re making a pick? – Ren.
A: This came after the announcement of the Heat moving forward with Wednesday night’s draft party and with Kel’el Ware scheduled to be in attendance at Kaseya Center. As far as Ware, considering he wasn’t included in the Kevin Durant trade proposal, it seemingly would have to take something rather significant for him to be dealt (not that it still can’t happen). As for the No. 20 pick that the Heat hold on Wednesday night, that still could come down to who is available and how much another team might covet the pick. So still no guarantees there, even with it not sent out in a Durant trade.
Q: Why not reach out to Golden State and see if Miami can give them back Andrew Wiggins and the draft pick we got in the Jimmy Butler trade and go after Jonathan Kuminga? Kuminga is raw, 22 years old and has tremendous upside, especially developing in the Heat program. – Ken.
A: The Heat certainly could, although I’m not sure the Warriors tax position would allow for interest in that end. But if a Heat move were to be made for Jonathan Kuminga, that basically would lock in a longterm trio of Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Jonathan Kuminga. And is that good enough?