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The Miami Heat want to trade for a superstar before the 2022-23 season. After coming up just short of reaching the NBA Finals, Miami is focused on acquiring either Kevin Durant or Donovan Mitchell.
Along with the Phoenix Suns, the Heat have been named as a team on Durant’s wish list. Miami and the New York Knicks are considered to be the top contenders to pull off a deal for Mitchell.
Which All-Star is more likely to end up in Miami? The Heat have prioritized trying to trade for Durant over Mitchell, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
The Knicks are viewed as the frontrunners to get Mitchell. New York can offer the Utah Jazz up to eight first-round draft picks. The Knicks reportedly believe that they can even get a deal done without giving up R.J. Barrett.
The Heat can’t come close to trading as many first-round picks as the Knicks. Tyler Herro would have to be at the center of any Miami trade offer for a star player.
Herro was named the 2022 Sixth Man of the Year at just 22 years old. In his third NBA season, Herro averaged 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
In theory, Bam Adebayo could be Miami’s best trade asset for a deal with the Brooklyn Nets. Because of their contracts, the Nets can’t acquire Adebayo as long as Ben Simmons is on the roster.
The trade rumors regarding Durant have slowed down over the last couple of weeks. Since Durant asked the Nets for a trade at the start of free agency, Brooklyn seemingly hasn’t come close to accepting an offer for the two-time NBA Finals MVP.
The Jazz are reportedly open to trading Mitchell after sending Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for a haul of first-round picks. The asking price for Utah’s guard could be even higher than what it was for Gobert.
Durant is still widely considered to be one of the five best players in the NBA. The 33-year-old averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game last season.
In five NBA seasons, Mitchell is scoring 23.9 points per game. Mitchell has never missed the playoffs.
Miami was defeated by the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat were not quite good enough offensively to win the championship.
Adding an offensive star like Durant or Mitchell could push the Heat over the top next season.
Photo: Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images
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