Miami Heat are out on James Harden trade … for now
The Miami Heat are pulling out of James Harden trade talks for the time being.
In case you somehow missed any of the ongoing James Harden saga, here’s the quick rundown: James Harden and Russell Westbrook wanted out, Westbrook got traded, Harden showed up late to training camp because he was busy partying with rapper Lil Baby, things got awkward, Harden preferred a trade to either the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks or Miami Heat, the Houston Rockets expanded trade talks, and all in all, it looks like we’re heading toward incredibly uncomfortable territory until the Rockets can get a blockbuster deal done.
On Monday, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel added the latest update to this unending melodrama, reporting that the Heat are out on James Harden trade talks, which he said were always just “cursory.”
However, as Winderman notes by including the bit about Jimmy Butler, these situations are fluid and can change in an instant.
Per source, Heat no longer are engaging Rockets when it comes to Harden. Was told conversation never was more than cursory, but that, of course, always is a matter of perspective. Heat made clear on eve of 2018-19 season they were out of Jimmy Butler talks for that season.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) December 21, 2020
The Miami Heat are out on James Harden trade talks for now
We’ve already extensively covered potential James Harden trades, as well as the best possible Harden trade for the Nets, Sixers, Bucks and Heat. In Miami’s case, it would probably take something like Goran Dragic, Kelly Olynyk, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and multiple first-round picks to get the job done.
That could be problematic, since the Heat are reportedly out on the idea of including Herro, which would make any potential offer a nonstarter in Houston’s book. A core of Harden, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo would be tantalizing, even after sacrificing significant depth and shooting, but the questions about Harden’s fit with Heat Culture are significant.
Only time will tell if the Heat change course and decide to swing for the fences by going all in on a troubled, perennial MVP candidate, but for now, Miami is backing out.
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