Report: Heat ‘believed to’ have interest in Kyrie Irving

The Miami Warmth are “believed to” have “some degree of” curiosity the “sweepstakes” for present Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, Marc Stein reported in his newest substack article (subscription required) Wednesday.

Here’s a snippet of what Stein wrote:

“Miami is believed to have some degree of interst in becoming a member of the chase for Irving — ought to the Nets attain the purpose of actively making an attempt to commerce him — and would determine to be a extra respectable touchdown spot than the groups intitally talked about given the Warmth’s numerous commerce belongings. Whereas it definitely ranks as one other pressure on the creativeness to attempt to image Irving discovering day by day consolation in Pat Riley’s inflexible South Seashore operation, it’s likewise true that the warmth have by no means shied away from the starries of stars or personalities painted as difficult.”

Irving has till June 29 to both settle for or decline his 2022-23 participant possibility for $36.9 million. If he opted in, it could mark the final yr of his deal and he would enter unrestricted free company subsequent offseason. However Irving, who has performed 45.5 p.c (103-of-226) of Brooklyn’s obtainable common season video games since becoming a member of the franchise, is in search of a max extension from the Nets this summer time with talks reaching a reported “deadlock”, in response to The Athletic’s Shams Charania on Monday.

Among the many rumored to be within the potential sweepstakes for Irving that Stein is referring to is the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and the New York Knicks — the three Charania initially put in his report.

This isn’t Miami’s first rodeo with Kyrie Irving, labeling the Warmth as one in all his 4 most well-liked touchdown spots in 2017, together with the Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves and the San Antonio Spurs. When he was with the Wolves, in 2017, Butler selected Irving on ESPN’s First Take when requested who he needs to play with probably the most, dubbing Irving was his “favourite participant” who wasn’t himself.

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For the Warmth to hypothetically purchase Irving, it could be all that sure that Miami would ship out Kyle Lowry, who’s set to make $28.3 million in 2022-23 and $29.7 million within the ultimate yr of his contract in 2023-24.

Together with Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro and Gabe Vincent/Max Strus/Omer Yurtseven (presumptively its most precious belongings), Miami can commerce three first-round picks — 2022 (No. 27 general), 2023 and 2028 — outright with pick-swaps obtainable in 2024 and 2027.