As the Kyrie Irving sweepstakes continue to tick on, specific packages from potential suitors have started, sort of, to leak out. Among those that have trickled out: The Miami Heat’s offer.
According to ESPN.com’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Heat are willing to dangle a package built around Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow:
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.
Hold the phones, though.
The Heat have denied this report, per Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel:
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.
This is one of those super complicated situations. As Woj pointed out, a deal is unlikely, purely because all business between the Cavaliers and Heat has built-in iffiness. But it’s also unlikely because this doesn’t come close to meeting Cleveland’s expected asking price. Dragic is arguably a better complement to LeBron James, since he probably won’t have as many issues playing second fiddle, but Justise Winslow is an elite defender with a broken jumper who the Cavaliers don’t have time to wait on. Andrew Wiggins is probably their limit in terms of project status.
Hence why the Heat would deny this. The deal itself has probably been discussed, if not between Miami and Cleveland, then within the organization itself. The Heat have to know it’s a long shot, or an unattainable pipe dream, so they don’t want these rumors getting out and affecting the morale of players who, in all likelihood, will still be with them next year.
Point being: If and when the Cavaliers trade Irving, it won’t be to Miami.
