Miami Heat: Creating a trade proposal for James Harden

The Trade

Now this one could get tricky for the Miami Heat. They have shown to be unwilling to part ways with either Tyler Herro or Bam Adebayo. Even though the Rockets would love to have both, the Heat would certainly be forced to give up at least one of them.

That one would probably be Herro, as Harden’s arrival would slow down his potential growth either way. Regardless, Adebayo has already reached All-Star status and might be headed towards the throne as the league’s best center in a few years.

If the Heat wait until after free agency, a potential sign-and-trade deal involving Goran Dragic might further improve this deal, as Goran could fill in once (or if) Russell Westbrook gets traded from Houston.

Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn are two rookies that lit up the league this season. Herro did it mainly during the playoffs, while Nunn’s success in the regular season was nothing like we ever saw before from an undrafted rookie, where he finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting.

The highly-compensated, yet extremely useful, Andre Iguodala and Kelly Olynyk would have to be included in a deal to make the salaries work. Harden’s near $40 million contract per year doesn’t leave the Miami  Heat–or any other team–with much wiggle room.

Last but not least, one or more unprotected first-round pick(s) is likely to be tossed towards Houston’s way during the negotiations. As we witness in the recent OKC Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans blockbuster deals, these picks are sweet like sugar for rebuilding teams

By moving to the Miami Heat, James Harden instantly transforms the team into the deadliest offense in the league. In a trade that takes a lot of courage to even offer, who will be the first to do so?