Report: Miami Heat Willing to Let Go of Two Huge Pieces for Kyrie Irving

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As the Miami Heat search for the right combination of players to offer in their effort to acquire Kyrie Irving from the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team was reported to be dangling two important players in an effort to entice the Cavaliers: point guard Goran Dragic and forward Justise Winslow. However, another report indicates that the Heat are denying that those players are involved in any trade package for the 25-year-old point guard who wants to be dealt away from Cleveland.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first offered the speculation on Friday about Dragic and Winslow being involved in any theoretical Irving deal, though he did indicate that the likelihood of it going forward seemed remote:

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“The Heat are willing to part with Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow as centerpieces for an Irving trade, league sources said. With the Cleveland-Miami history, there’s little chance for a deal unless the Heat offered an overwhelming package.”

However, almost immediately after that report came out, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel indicated that the Heat would not be making any such deal:

“In the wake of that report, the Heat took the rare step under the leadership of President Pat Riley of publicly denying that any offer, of any sort, had been made for Irving,” Winderman said. “According to a party familiar with the situation, the Cavaliers’ current demands exceed what the Heat, and apparently several other teams, believe is feasible in such a transaction.”
Irving has listed the Heat as one of the four teams he wants to be traded to, a list that also includes Minnesota, New York and San Antonio. However, because he has two years remaining on his contract without a no-trade clause, the Cavaliers have all the leverage regarding which team he plays for during the 2017-18 campaign.
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Brad Sullivan is a freelance writer for HeatNation.com, having been an avid fan of NBA basketball for more than four decades. During that time, he's watched the Heat evolve from gestation period to expansion team all the way to three-time NBA champions. He'll follow their quest toward again reaching those lofty heights, and do so by offering some perspective along the way.