Heat pour cold water on Irving trade rumours
MIAMI— Taking the rare step of commenting on trade speculation, the Miami Heat on Friday denied an ESPN report that the team had offered point guard Goran Dragic and forward Justise Winslow to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a package for disgruntled guard Kyrie Irving.
Amid the swirl created by Irving’s reported trade demand, ESPN personality Adrian Wojnarowski listed the Heat among at least six teams that have made trade pitches, along with the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks.
Wojnarowski’s report said the Heat “are willing to part” with Dragic and Winslow in a package for Irving.
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.
According to a party familiar with the situation, the Cavaliers’ current demands exceed what the Heat, and apparently several other teams, believe is feasible.
Irving, 25, has three years remaining on a contract that pays $18.9 mil- lion this coming season, but he has the ability to become a free agent in the 2019 offseason. The Heat, according to a party familiar with his situation, intrigue Irving because of the front-office leadership of Riley and the coaching of Erik Spoelstra.
The Cavaliers earlier this week downplayed urgency on the Irving front.
“These things are fluid,” owner Dan Gilbert said. “We think that Kyrie Irving is one of the best guards in the NBA. He was part of a championship, three years straight to the Finals and we value his talent significantly.
“Right now Kyrie Irving is under contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers for two or three more years. As of now he’s one of our two or three best players. Sure, I expect him to be in camp.” Koby Altman, who was named Cavaliers general manager earlier this week said, “It’s a fluid situation and something that we are just not going to address right now.”
Beyond acknowledging due diligence on all potential trade possibilities, the Heat previously had not directly addressed the Irving scenarios.
The ESPN report also referenced the testy recent history between the teams, with Gilbert issuing an angry screed upon LeBron James’ departure for the Heat in 2010 free agency, with Gilbert then launching an investigation into potential tampering by the Heat during that pursuit.
The Heat then lost James back to the Cavaliers in 2014 free agency.
The teams have not made a trade since the sign-and-trade agreement that ultimately delivered James to the Heat in July 2010.
Aparty familiar with the teams said the history between the teams could also strain any trade discussions.
According to Wojnarowski’s report, “With the Cleveland-Miami history, there’s little chance for a deal unless the Heat offered an overwhelming package.”
While the Heat could sweeten a proposal with the type of young players the Cavaliers reportedly would seek in such a deal, with Josh Richardson a possibility, as well as 2017 first-round pick Bam Adebayo, who becomes trade eligible Tuesday, they lack a first-round pick to put into play until 2023, due to the NBA’s ban on the trade of successive future first-round picks. The Heat are allowed to acquire a first-round pick in a separate deal and then forward such a selection.