Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Harden with eyes for Heat? Fine, but...
Could move get in the way of Riley’s vision?
It started with a threeword answer to a question the Miami Heat soon may have to answer.
“Why would they?” a member of an NBA front office replied Thursday morning when asked about the Heat making it to James Harden’s trade wish list.
It’s obvious Harden wants out of Houston, with his delayed arrival to Rockets training camp in the wake of the departure of coach Mike D’Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey.
Then came Thursday’s report by The Athletic that in addition to the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, Harden also would be receptive to a trade to the Heat or Milwaukee Bucks.
Considering the Heat’s ability to attract interest from seemingly every NBA star with a wanderlust itch, the latest link hardly came as revelation. Heat president Pat Riley, after all, previously got free-agency face time with Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge when he lacked the requisite free-agency cash to close such deals.
And even those who had eyes elsewhere (Gordon Hayward for the Boston Celtics, for example)
“over the coming weeks.”
“On behalf of Inter Miami’s ownership group, staff and fans I would like to thank Paul for his invaluable contribution to the expansion of Inter Miami CF over the past two and a half years,” Mas said in a statement. “Under his leadership, Inter Miami has established a solid base to build upon, from the club’s infrastructure to its elite facilities. As the club’s first hire, Paul will always be a part of Inter Miami. I am grateful to him for the passion and dedication he brought to the organization.”
McDonough joined Inter Miami as the club’s sporting director in August 2018 after leading Atlanta United FC and Orlando City SC through their expansion seasons. His tenure as the vice president of soccer operations at Atlanta United (January 2016 through August 2018) witnessed Atlanta make the playoffs in its inaugural season (2017) and win the MLS Cup four months after McDonough’s departure. He was Orlando City SC’s senior vice president of soccer operations from January 2014 through January 2016.