There’s jokes that Miami Heat president Pat Riley is in the mafia because of the way he looks and the way he always makes things happen. Well those rumors would rise if the Heat manage the land the biggest star of the 2016 free agency, Kevin Durant. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards have reportedly been considered the main contenders but this latest report is throwing the Heat into the mix.
Zach Lowe at Grantland says expect Riley to at least take his best shot at Durant.
One star changes everything, and Riley gets stars. Next summer, Miami could open up nearly $40 million in cap room, and as much as $45 million if it moves McRoberts for extra cap space. That’s a ton, but if Whiteside has even a solid season, it’s not enough to bring back both Whiteside and Wade while signing an outside star; the Heat will not have full Bird rights on Whiteside, meaning they will have to dip into cap space to re-sign him.
Consider one example: Durant’s max salary for 2016-17 will be about $25 million, leaving $15 million or $20 million to split between Wade and Whiteside. That won’t do it, unless Wade takes a massive hometown discount. (By the way: Rail against the Durant rumor mill if you want, but you’re kidding yourselves if you don’t think Riley will set Miami up to make a run at him.)
