NBA Free Agency: One move every team needs to make

Miami Heat: Sign Kevin Durant

Signing Kevin Durant will be the top priority for the Heat. Pat Riley will use every persuasion technique in his book, and a surge to 3rd in the East last season adds some level of incentive in Durant’s mind. Plus, they’re now one of only six NBA teams planning a meeting with him for the start of free agency.

Golden State and even Miami are supposedly the top teams to sign Durant if he moves, when considering title chances, the city and the market, according to an agent who spoke to The Oklahoman:

"“So Golden State and Miami become the only real players,” the agent said. “It’s too hard to justify a move to Los Angeles (Lakers) or New York because they are not close to winning. Houston’s out.”"

As for Hassan Whiteside, their next priority, he’ll be targeted by several teams around the league, yet the Heat are still his preference if the money is right (per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald):

"A friend of Whiteside did not dispute that report [being pursued by Dallas] and said Whiteside, through back-channels, is generating considerable interest around the league. ESPN identified Portland as another team expected to seriously pursue Whiteside. That friend said Whiteside prefers to stay with the Heat if all things are equal financially."

Perhaps a lack of murmurs that Dwyane Wade is working towards a big contract is that he’s willing to take a pay cut as he enters his final notable years in Miami. Less money in his already loaded bank account only increases the chance of a Whiteside-Durant pairing, and motivation for the latter to join the team in the first place.

Once the Heat have established whether or not they can sign Durant and where that sets them financially, they’ll move onto addressing Whiteside.

If the Heat can pitch to Durant that Whiteside will stay put and they can combine the two together, they may be able to keep their star and add another. The financial situation won’t be easy, though.

Next: Toronto Raptors