The Miami Heat will have some soul-searching to do following their crushing early exit from the NBA Playoffs.
One year removed from representing the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals last season, the Heat were knocked out in the first round by the retooled Milwaukee Bucks. Losing to Milwaukee in four games was an embarrassing effort on Miami’s end, and they will now have a long offseason ahead of them to think about it.
However, rumors have already started to swirl about a potential superstar with links to Miami. That star is a household player named Kawhi Leonard, who is currently competing for an NBA title with the LA Clippers.
Recently talking on an episode of his show The Woj Pod, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski gave some insight into the future of Leonard and how the Heat could play a part in it. Transcribed by Mason Bissada of SI.com:
"“I think Kawhi is staying with the Clippers,” Wojnarowski said during a conversation with Zach Lowe. “He hasn’t said that publicly, and he probably won’t until the day he signs that contract. I know there’s been some mention of Miami. ‘Could Miami be a sleeper for him?’ I think he’s where he wants to be geographically. I think he’s gotten along very well with the organization, with management, with ownership.”"
Although Wojnarowski highlighted the belief that Leonard will likely stay with the Clippers at this point, the mention of Miami is certainly enough to stir the pot. With Leonard’s name floating about in rumors with an uncertain future ahead in Los Angeles, here are three reasons why Miami should pursue him if he elects to decline his player option for next season and enter free agency.
The Miami Heat should pursue Kawhi Leonard because he’s Kawhi Leonard
Do not overthink this one. If one of the best players in today’s NBA becomes available and is reportedly interested in signing with a certain franchise, it is typically a no-brainer that the interest is mutual.
That should unquestionably be the case here with the Heat and the rumors swirling about Leonard. Backed by two championships, two Finals MVPs, five All-Star nominations, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and much more hardware on his resume, Leonard has established himself to be among the top players in the association over the years.
Despite the lingering issues over the past two seasons with his knee and the never-ending load management saga, Leonard’s numbers prove that he is still at the top of his game. Since joining the Clippers, the forward has posted averages of 26 points on .488/.387/.885 shooting splits, 6.8 rebounds, and five assists over 109 regular-season contests. At 29-years-old, Leonard still has plenty of gas left in the tank, and a fresh start with the Heat could be an enticing pairing for both parties involved.
Kawhi Leonard has a previous history of wanting to play with Jimmy Butler, which could happen on the Miami Heat
Both Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler entered free agency together during the summer of 2019. Leonard had just won an NBA title and Finals MVP with the Toronto Raptors. At the same time, Butler got sent home early in the second round with the Philadelphia 76ers thanks to the infamous buzzer-beater in Game 7 by Leonard himself.
Both players were exploring their options on where they would play next, but one potential scenario that seemed to be in the cards was the pair joining forces on the LA Clippers. It is well known that Leonard was not willing to commit to the Clippers without another established star joining forces alongside him, and according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick (subscription required), Leonard was interested in pairing with Butler in LA to make the Clippers a powerhouse contender in the Western Conference.
However, Butler opted to sign with Miami to be the leading man, and LA traded a historic amount of assets to acquire Paul George to also ink Leonard’s signature. With Kawhi set to hit free agency once more once this season concludes, perhaps the thought of playing with Butler is something he could revisit and turn into a reality this time around. If that desire to join forces was mutual between the two stars, then it seems feasible to believe Butler could give his best recruiting effort to land the two-time Finals MVP in South Beach this offseason.
Kawhi Leonard would help the Miami Heat form a lethal trio with Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler
Nowadays, teams in the NBA need a star-studded trio to compete with the best, and the Miami Heat simply did not have one this season.
Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are a great pairing, but the Heat lacked a legitimate third star to round out a formidable trio. It appeared that Victor Oladipo would be that missing piece when the team traded for him before the deadline, but that dream was short-lived as the guard played just four games with the club before undergoing season-ending surgery on his right quad tendon. Sure, the Heat could look to sign Oladipo this offseason and give him a legitimate trial run as the third star on this team next season, but pursuing a surefire superstar like Leonard would certainly be much more desirable.
A trio of Butler, Adebayo, and Leonard is undoubtedly a formidable one, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. These three would pose a nightmarish matchup for opposing offenses on a nightly basis with the prowess each individual brings to the table. This combination of rugged defensive aces could perhaps bolt the Heat to the top of the Eastern Conference hierarchy heading into next season despite the abundance of talent within the conference.
Those Milwaukee Bucks with Giannis Antetokounmo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday are not going anywhere anytime soon. Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving are gunning for the title with one of the most star-studded trios ever pieced together with the Brooklyn Nets. If the Miami Heat will get back into genuine title contention next season, they must look to add that third complementary piece, and right now, Leonard appears to be their best bet.