The Miami Heat are just days away from beginning training camp for the 2018-19 season, and according to recent reports, their roster could see a lot of changes between now and then.
On Sunday evening, Miami Herald‘s Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson detailed the list of current Heat players who could become part of a deal to acquire disgruntled All-Star Jimmy Butler:
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“The Heat has told teams this offseason that Hassan Whiteside, Tyler Johnson and Dion Waiters are available, according to two opposing front office executives who have spoken to the Heat. But the Heat knows a different combination of more attractive players will be needed to pry away Butler, who averaged 22.2 points per game for Minnesota last season.”
While the Heat are reluctant to deal those on their roster with star potential, it may be necessary to actually bring Butler to South Florida. Chiang and Jackson continued:
“The Heat has been very reluctant this offseason to part with Josh Richardson and Bam Adebayo, and it’s unclear if Miami would be willing to include Richardson in a deal for Butler. (Miami’s preference would be not to include Richardson.)
“Miami also prefers to keep Kelly Olynyk. But Justise Winslow could be put in play because of questions about whether the Heat will keep him if he enters restricted free agency next summer. Winslow and the Heat are not close to a contract extension, with a mid-October deadline looming, and one GM said he could command a deal starting at $9 million in a new contract.”
If the Heat were able to hold onto Adebayo and Richardson, it would be quite the feat. Still, parting ways with players such as Whiteside, Johnson, Waiters, and Winslow would be quite the dramatic shakeup to Miami’s roster.
If the Heat managed to put Whiteside in a deal involving Butler, it could be seen as something of a win-win.
At the end of the 2017-18 season, Whiteside was at the center of several off-court distractions that seemed to point to the end of his time in Miami. He averaged 14.0 points and 11.4 rebounds per game last season, and was seemingly able to bury the hatchet with Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra earlier this summer.
Still, it is likely that both parties would relish an opportunity for a new start.
It could also be seen as a positive if the Heat were able to part ways with players such as Johnson and Waiters, who have both failed to live up to recent contract extensions, in a deal for Butler.
Based off of the most recent reports, it seems as though the Timberwolves are looking to make a deal as soon as possible. It will be interesting to see if the Heat are the team able to make it happen.
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