Miami Heat Trade Rumors: Proposal Includes $120 Million Former All-Star

When it comes to Pat Riley and Miami Heat trade rumors, we know that the past may sometimes predict the future. We’ve seen that with Kyle Lowry, a player the Heat had their eye on for a long time before signing him in free agency two years ago. The same could be said for Kevin Love, another Heat target. Could that proclivity be seen in another Heat target, Hornets guard Gordon Hayward?

It’s all guesswork since we don’t know whether Charlotte will embrace the truth of their 7-18 record and begin selling veteran components, or whether they’ll continue to believe that the playoffs are just around the horizon. It has been the latter in recent years.

But we know Riley was previously obsessed with bringing Hayward to Miami and nearly had him in free agency. Given the current makeup of the Heat roster, addressing that idea may be useful.

“Gordon Hayward is a different player now, obviously, but one thing about Pat Riley, he does fixate, he has guys who once he likes them, he kind of keeps trying to bring them in, even later in their careers,” one Eastern Conference executive told Heavy Sports. “You see it with Goran Dragic and now (Josh) Richardson, guys like that. And Hayward does a lot that would fit for them.”

Miami Heat Trade Rumors: Worth Dealing Kyle Lowry?

Hayward is a 6-foot-7 forward with varied skills who can handle the ball, attack the basket, and shoot. He is averaging 15.2 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists (the second most in his career), while shooting 46.6% from the field and 36.2% from beyond the arc. All of this makes for interesting fuel for a Miami Heat trade rumor.

He is, however, 33 years old and has struggled to stay healthy since breaking his ankle in his first game with the Boston Celtics in 2017. Hayward has appeared in 290 games out of 574 since 2017, missing over half of those games.

If he stays healthy, he can be a valuable supplementary ballhandler for the Miami Heat. He is also nearing the end of a four-year, $120 million contract that will pay him $31.5 million this year. Getting him might be done elegantly in a trade for Kyle Lowry, who has performed admirably, and possibly a well-protected draft asset.

“There is no question that the guy can help a team,” the executive stated. “The skill level he has at his size is special and when you talk about teams that want to play positionless basketball, which is everyone, pretty much, these days, he is the guy you want for that.”

Pat Riley Nearly Had Gordon Hayward Signed

Of course, the moment Pat Riley nearly had Hayward was back in 2017, when Hayward was a free agent and tabbed by nearly everyone to leave Utah and land with the Celtics, where he could play for his former college coach at Butler, Brad Stevens.

But in the Heat’s presentation, Riley was persuasive.

“After the video, (Pat Riley) kind of talked a little bit,” Hayward later told Adrian Wojnarowski on his podcast (via the Sun Sentinel). “And that’s when you start to get a little chills.” And everyone on the staff was wearing their ring as well. So that’s the moment when you’re like, ‘Wow, that’s really fantastic,’ and you want to put on the jersey right away.”

Hayward did ultimately sign with the Celtics, hurt his ankle and ruin (OK, that is a bit strong) his career. But maybe the Heat will give him a mulligan and bring him to South Beach after all.