Heat’s Fallback Option Revealed Amid Kevin Durant Trade Talks

The Miami Heat are one of the two teams floated as a potential landing spot for Golden State Warriors‘ former lottery pick Jonathan Kuminga amid their pursuit of Kevin Durant.

Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto reported on June 16 that the Heat could acquire the restricted free agent via sign-and-trade as their backup option.

“The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat are two teams to monitor as potential sign-and-trade candidates for Kuminga, league sources told HoopsHype. With that in mind, the Warriors have also not ruled out the possibility of retaining Kuminga, sources said,” Scotto wrote.

The Heat’s focus remains on bringing a bona fide star after they lost Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline.

“Miami has prioritized pursuits of Giannis Antetokounmpo (if he became available this summer) and [Kevin] Durant (whom they’re actively trying to acquire) on their wish list ahead of Kuminga, who’s viewed as a fallback option to the two superstars,” Scotto wrote.

Jonathan Kuminga Fits Heat’s Timeline

Getty Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors dunks the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal playoffs.

Kuminga, the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA draft,  is “looking for an expanded and consistent role moving forward,” Scotto noted.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr often compared the 22-year-old Kuminga to a younger version of Butler, an athletic wing who attacks the paint and gets to the free throw line. Their issue as a non-shooter made Kerr reluctant to play them together since they acquired the former Heat star.

Kuminga showed what he can do when given the opportunity during the last four games of their second-round loss in the playoffs. The 22-year-old forward averaged 24.3 points on 55.4% overall shooting and 38.9% from the 3-point line in what could be his final games in a Golden State uniform.

Kuminga fits the timeline of the Heat’s young core of Bam Adebayo (27), Tyler Herro (25), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24), Nikola Jovic (22) and Kel’el Ware (21). He can grow with them.

The Heat could send back Andrew Wiggins, who never found his footing in Miami, to the Warriors for Kuminga and a salary filler.

Pat Riley Vows Changes

Whether the Heat trades for Durant or Kuminga, one thing is certain.

They are not going back with the same team next season.

Heat president Pat Riley made it clear during his end-of-season press conference.

“I think we do have to make changes. There’s no doubt,” Riley told reporters. “There has to be some change.”

Riley’s comments came on the heels of a tumultuous season marred by Butler’s messy exit and culminated in an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round that saw them lose by an average of 30.5 points per game.

“There are some lateral trades that can be made to improve the team,” Riley added. “Do we inject an alpha? A great, great player to help maximize our performance in those double-digit leads that were lost? It could be that simple.”

Antetokounmpo or Durant is Plan A. Kuminga is Plan B.

Kevin Durant or Jonathan Kuminga?

Getty Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant has made it known where he wants to play next.

Multiple reports suggest Antetokounmpo is staying in Milwaukee.

So the Heat’s focus lies on Durant, the 37-year-old star who had only won one playoff series since he left Golden State in 2019.

A trade for Durant reeks of desperation, but it’s hard to blame Riley and the Heat. The Eastern Conference will be wide open next season after the Boston Celtics lost Jayson Tatum to a devastating Achilles injury.

Durant can elevate them to the upper echelon in the East, but doesn’t guarantee they can come out of it with the Pacers, Knicks, Cavaliers, Pistons, the Desmond Bane-infused Magic and the Tatum-less Celtics as viable playoff contenders.

A trade for Kuminga will come at a relatively cheaper price and move that better suits their timeline.