1 reason Raptors can top each competing Kevin Durant trade offer
By Mike Luciano
Miami Heat: Lack of tradeable assets
The Nets can not acquire a second rookie-scale extension contract via trade, and Ben Simmons is already taking up Brooklyn’s spot. This means that Miami would be unable to trade Bam Adebayo to Brooklyn as the headliner that sells the Nets on their KD return.
With Bam gone, Miami’s best players include two greybeards in Jimmy Butler and the declining Kyle Lowry. Tyler Herro is a promising youngster, but he is a terrible defender and redundant next to Joe Harris and Seth Curry. Duncan Robinson isn’t moving the needle like OG Anunoby would.
The Toronto Raptors could outbid the Miami Heat.
While it would be heartbreaking to see a star like Pascal Siakam or Fred VanVleet go, Toronto at least has the flexibility needed to keep one of them to play alongside Durant. Even players like Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. could be more valuable to Brooklyn than someone like Robinson.
The Heat are built to win now, but they aren’t as willing to absorb a superstar acquisition like this as they may have been in the past. If Brooklyn wants to maximize their return, Miami is just not built to satisfy them right now.