In the summer of 2010, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat" rel="sponsored nofollow">Miami Heat</a> pulled off a historic move by pairing <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in South Florida. Unsurprisingly, that paid off in two <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> championships.



The Heat failed to get the trophy in the first season with their Big Three, suffering an unexpected loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals. However, they bounced back with consecutive rings in 2012 and 2013.



LeBron went on to succeed in Cleveland and Los Angeles, but those two victories with the Heat will always be special. Though Wade and Bosh played a pivotal role in his first titles, Gilbert Arenas believes Udonis Haslem deserves credit for The King’s success in Miami.



<h2>Gilbert Arenas says LeBron won in Miami because of Udonis Haslem</h2>



“The two championships LeBron got there, you got to credit him for it because he’s the one that took the pay cut to make it happen,” Gilbert Arenas said on his podcast. “UD was offered $33 million to go to Milwaukee, turned that down, and signed whatever was left. He protected his stars. You foul Dwyane Wade, you hit LeBron, you hit anybody on this team, I’m coming.“



<h2>When did LeBron James leave the Heat?</h2>



LeBron James left the Miami Heat in the summer of 2014, shortly after losing the NBA Finals to the San Antonio Spurs.



That offseason, The King decided to go back to the Cleveland Cavaliers, aiming to help the franchise that drafted him first overall in 2003 win its first ever NBA championship.



<h2>How many seasons did Udonis Haslem spend in Miami?</h2>



Udonis Haslem spent 20 NBA seasons with the Miami Heat from 2003 to 2023.


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UD40 was part of the franchise’s three NBA championships (2006, 2012, and 2013), spending his last six seasons in South Florida on minimum contracts.

Gilbert Arenas' surprising take on who deserves credit for LeBron's success in Miami

Neither Wade nor Bosh: Gilbert Arenas says another Heat player let LeBron succeed - Bolavip US

Neither Wade nor Bosh: Gilbert Arenas says another Heat player let LeBron succeed

miniaturas

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard">Damian Lillard</a> has been the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a>’s priority target ever since they lost the 2023 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> Finals to the Denver Nuggets. With Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo off the table, the best asset they could offer was a package including Tyler Herro.



The 2021-22 Sixth Man of the Year has proven his worth in the league since being selected by the Heat with the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. At 23, Herro still has his entire career ahead of him.



But of course, being mentioned as a possible bargaining chip is never nice for a player who is happy with his current team. In an appearance on The Crossover podcast, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated suggested Herro is unhappy with the Heat for involving him in trade talks this offseason.



<h2>Rumor: Tyler Herro unhappy with Heat for being included in trade talks</h2>



“Tyler Herro has not been pleased by all of that’s gone in Miami this offseason,” Mannix said, via SI.com. “How he’s just been bandied about as kind of filler in trade talks. Tyler Herro is a couple years removed from winning the Sixth Man of the Year.



“It was a disappointing finish to him last year. Tyler Herro believe he’s on a certain level. He has not been happy how his name has been tossed around in all these trade talks. Oftentimes, when we’re discussing Tyler Herro, we’re discussing how many teams don’t want him. That has not sat well with Tyler Herro.”



<h2>What’s Tyler Herro’s contract?</h2>



Tyler Herro signed a four-year, $120m deal with the Heat that kicks in this season.


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<h2>How many years does Lillard have left in his contract?</h2>



In 2022, Damian Lillard signed a two-year contract extension with the Blazers through the 2025–26 season with a player option for 2026–27.

NBA Rumors: Tyler Herro not happy with being mentioned in Damian Lillard trade talks

NBA Rumors: Tyler Herro not happy with being mentioned in Lillard trade talks - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard">Damian Lillard</a> has been linked with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> for months, but it’s unclear whether the trade will ultimately come to fruition. This would be a match made in heaven, but the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/portland-trail-blazers">Portland Trail Blazers</a> aren’t making things easy.



At 33, Dame has realized his best shot at winning an elusive <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> championship is outside Oregon. Miami, meanwhile, seems to be the perfect place where he can challenge for a coveted ring.



If the Heat were able to make the NBA Finals last season, Lillard could be the missing piece to win the prize next time. Though getting him out of Portland doesn’t seem easy, at least it looks like the Heat don’t have too many competitors.



<h2>Rumor: Heat are the only team really interested in Lillard</h2>



(Via Heat Nation)



“I don’t think anyone likes the idea of Dame coming in and forcing the Blazers’ hand like this, forcing them to take a deal from a team that does not have the assets,” one NBA front-office executive told Sean Deveney of Forbes. “That’s a bad precedent, and it is one we are seeing too much of. But if Dame had not said, ‘Miami or nothing,’ where else was Portland really going to go for a deal? Maybe Brooklyn? But where else? There’s not that many teams that are going to give you a bunch of players and picks for a 33-year-old who can’t stay healthy and has a giant contract sitting there.



“Of course, owners don’t want players picking their trade destination and shutting out the other 28 teams,” said the same executive. “But it was not anything Dame said or Aaron Goodwin said that shut down the market. That stuff didn’t help. But there weren’t teams lined up for him even before that.”



<h2>What’s Damian Lillard’s contract in Portland?</h2>



Last year, Damian Lillard signed a two-year contract extension with the Portland Trail Blazers through the 2025–26 season with a player option for 2026–27.


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<h2>When was the last time Lillard made the playoffs with the Blazers?</h2>



Damian Lillard hasn’t made the playoffs with the Portland Trail Blazers since the 2020-21 season.

NBA Rumors: Heat may have good news about Damian Lillard

NBA Rumors: Heat may have good news about Damian Lillard - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> seem to be just another star away from winning an <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> championship. That’s why <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard">Damian Lillard</a>, who wants out of the Portland Trail Blazers, has been heavily linked with a move to South Florida.



Last season, Jimmy Butler and company went further than predicted by becoming Eastern Conference champions, but that’s not enough. This team may have what it takes to succeed, but it’s safe to say it needs a player of Dame’s caliber to do so.



The Heat have been patiently waiting to make this deal happen, as the Blazers haven’t made things easy so far. In the meantime, it looks like they also keep an eye on Giannis Antetokounmpo — but getting both is very unlikely.



<h2>Rumor: How Heat landing Lillard would rule out hypothetical trade for Giannis</h2>



“Make the move for Lillard, and it could mean moving off Tyler Herro, who just happens to be a native of the Milwaukee area and potentially could be put into play for a potential trade for Antetokounmpo (yes, a lot of ‘potentially’ in there),” Ira Wunderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports. “A deal for Lillard also likely would cost the Heat potential future first-round picks and prospects that could be put into an alternate (Antetokounmpo?) deal.”


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Tyler Herro is widely seen as the most valuable trade asset the Heat have in any trade talks as long as Butler and Bam Adebayo are off the table. But for obvious reasons, for most teams it would come down to either Lillard or Giannis. If getting one of them is difficult, let alone to land both.

NBA Rumors: Lillard trade could prevent Heat from landing another star

NBA Rumors: Trading for Lillard could prevent Heat from landing another star - Bolavip US

Trading for Damian Lillard could prevent Heat from landing another star

NBA Rumors: Trading for Damian Lillard could prevent Heat from landing another star

After years of standing the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/portland-trail-blazers">Portland Trail Blazers</a>‘ struggles, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard">Damian Lillard</a> has had enough. The guard may see in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> a great opportunity to win his first <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> championship, which is why he requested a trade.



Talking to Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Lillard confirmed he submitted a trade request this offseason, “I can say that there was [a trade request] and I would just prefer not to speak on the Trail Blazers.”



It makes sense, since Dame is already 33 and he cannot keep on waiting for the Blazers to build a true supporting cast around him. But apart from having a great shot at winning his first ring, there seem to be many other reasons why he’s keen on Miami.



<h2>Why does Lillard want to play for Miami?</h2>



“Sources say Lillard is also attracted to the renowned ‘Heat Culture,’ consistent winning at a high level, franchise stability, no state taxes and marketing opportunities,” Spears reports.



Miami has shown how far its trademark Heat Culture is capable of taking the team, but it still seems to need another star to get the job done. With Lillard, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, we would have a serious contender here.



<h2>Damian Lillard admits he’s hungry for an NBA championship</h2>



“It’s higher than it’s ever been,” Lillard told Speas when asked about his desire to win his first ring. “When you’re younger and you’re winning, you realize that you got time. When you establish yourself in the league and you know that you’re here to stay, you feel like you have time. The older you get, that just means more time that you’ve put into it, especially when you’re at the top of the game and you’re having all these individual accomplishments, it becomes more and more of a priority to have the ultimate accomplishment, which is why we play the game, in winning the championship.



“I would say the desire for that now is as high as it’s probably going to be. That’s literally the thing at the top of my list. When I wake up and I got to get up and go do what I got to do, I got to train, I got to make time for my kids, I still got to lift, I got to do all these things and I got to make sure that training and the preparation is still my priority. Even with being a father of three now, not one, and having all these other responsibilities, you need something that you feel pretty strong about to stay committed the way I’ve been committed. It’s as high as it’s going to get. That’s ultimately what I want to experience and that’s what I want to get done.“


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Since Lillard is looking for an elusive ring and the Heat seem to be just another star away from getting to the promised land, this would be a match made in heaven. Only time will tell whether this deal finally comes to fruition.

NBA Rumors: 5 reasons Damian Lillard wants to join the Heat

NBA Rumors: 5 reasons Damian Lillard wants to join the Heat - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> made a surprising run to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> Finals last season, but their lack of another star besides Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo proved costly in the end. That’s why they’re keen on landing <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard">Damian Lillard</a> this offseason.



Dame did everything he could to succeed with the Portland Trail Blazers, but now it looks like he’s finally giving up. The guard reportedly made it clear he only wants to play for Miami, but his team is blocking the way out.



However, negotiations aren’t over yet, so the Heat are still optimistic they can get it done before the new season gets underway. In fact, the front office has reportedly identified two players to go after once Lillard moves to South Florida.



<h2>Which players could join the Heat apart from Lillard?</h2>



According to Greg Sylvander of Five Reasons Sports, if the Miami Heat finally land Lillard, they could go after Christian Wood and Kelly Oubre.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="596" height="294" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20230823_BUS_51448_Captura-de-pantalla-2023-08-23-175855.webp&amp;width=596&amp;height=294" alt="" class="wp-image-51505" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/Captura-de-pantalla-2023-08-23-175855.jpg 596w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/Captura-de-pantalla-2023-08-23-175855-300x148.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 596px) 100vw, 596px"></figure></div></figure>



“If the Heat do finally ever figure out a Dame trade…….Watch for both Christian Wood and Kelly Oubre to be on the team’s radar as possible vet minimum additions in free agency per league source.”


<div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="BUS#20230823#BUS#50848"></div>


While finding a way to get Lillard on board is obviously the priority, the Heat wouldn’t stop there. Both Wood and Oubre are interesting options still available in the open market.

NBA Rumors: Two players Heat would chase if they finally get Lillard

NBA Rumors: Two players Heat would chase if they get Damian Lillard - Bolavip US

NBA Rumors: Two players Heat would chase if they get Damian Lillard

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> made a deep run in the last playoffs, but couldn’t do much against Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> Finals. Therefore, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard">Damian Lillard</a> seems to be the perfect target to get the job done next time.



The guard reportedly let the Portland Trail Blazers know he wants out, and that Miami is the only place he intends to go. However, negotiations haven’t been easy so far and it’s uncertain when the parties will reach an agreement.



Therefore, the Heat continue to try to find a solution to this by giving Portland a package that meets its demands. However, it looks like they added another player to the list of untouchables.



<h2>Which player apart from Butler and Adebayo the Heat want to keep?</h2>



According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Miami Heat don’t want to include Tyler Herro in a deal for Damian Lillard.



“While a deal does not appear to be imminent, the Heat have been internally discussing multi-team scenarios that would result in them not only landing Lillard but keeping emerging star Tyler Herro as well, sources told ClutchPoints.”



<h2>Which players are the Heat willing to trade to get Lillard?</h2>



With Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and perhaps Tyler Herro off-limits, the report claims the Miami Heat are open to trading Duncan Robinson, Caleb Martin and Nikola Jovic.


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It makes sense, since they are the only players with enough trade value to make a Lillard move possible. However, the most likely scenario involves Herro in any potential deal.

Heat surprisingly want to leave a player out of a Damian Lillard deal

NBA Rumors: The player Heat don't want to include in Damian Lillard trade - Bolavip US

NBA Rumors: The player Heat don't want to include in Damian Lillard trade

Load management has become a worrisome issue for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NB</a>A fans and the league as a whole. Ever since <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kawhi-leonard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kawhi Leonard</a> started doing it, a lot of veteran stars have played along.



The fans pay a lot of money to watch the best players on Earth take the court. To make things eveen worse, some of them only have one chance to watch them play in their lifetime.



That’s why <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miami Heat</a> star Bam Adebayo has a big problem with players who decide to sit despite being healthy, as he recently said during an episode of ‘To Inspire.’



<h2>Bam Adebayo Criticizes Load Management</h2>



“A lot of guys sitting, like load management,” Adebayo said. “That kind of bothers me in a sense because you have a lot of kids and parents who want to see you play. You have kids who probably come from the inner city and their parents make a way to put them all the way up in the stands and then for you to find out they’re not playing. And it’s because you feel like, ‘I gotta load manage it, to be ready for this, that, and the third.’“



“Because I remember as a kid, I would have given my last dollar and my foot to go see Kobe Bryant play,” Adebayo continued. “So, I know if I felt like that it’s a lot of other kids that feel like that. So, for me, I feel like that’s the least quality that I don’t like about players in this league.”


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Unfortunately, this is not how most NBA players feel. Of course, it makes sense to preserve their bodies, but it’s not like players from the 80s weren’t able to play for 15+ years anyway.

Bam Adebayo takes a huge shot at players who do load management

Bam Adebayo takes a huge shot at players who do load management - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> defied the odds by making the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> Finals last season. Erik Spoelstra’s team struggled to string good results together in the regular season, but its performances were completely different in the playoffs.



Miami became Eastern Conference champions as the eight seed, which is not something you see in the league every year. But their loss to the Nuggets proved they still have work to do.



Even so, the Heat have yet to make a move that makes them stronger next season. Damian Lillard remains their priority target, but Portland hasn’t made things easy. Even so, coach Spo is confident about the roster’s status.



<h2>Erik Spoelstra not worried about Heat roster for next NBA season</h2>



“We have most of our work done. We’re bringing back the majority of our players &amp; that’s a luxury in this league,” Spoelstra told ESPN. “We feel great about our group. We made some nice additions. J-Rich, Thomas Bryant &amp; Jaquez. Tyler’s healthy. Jimmy &amp; Bam. That’s a great core. So we’re excited.”



Of course, the biggest question around the South Florida team has been whether it will ultimately land Dame. While the Heat seem to need another star to help Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, they’ve also lost some key contributors.


<div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="BUS#20230818#BUS#49019"></div>


Gabe Vincent and Max Strus left in free agency, which worries many Heat fans. However, this is not something new for Spoelstra, who always finds a way to get the best out of his players.

NBA Rumors: Erik Spoelstra gets real on Heat's offseason moves

NBA Rumors: Erik Spoelstra gets real on Heat's offseason moves - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jimmy-butler">Jimmy Butler</a> once again proved why he’s one of the most beloved players in today’s <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a>. The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> star put the team on his back last season, almost taking the franchise to a long-awaited championship.



The 33-year-old had his foot on the gas from the beginning of the playoffs and did not let up. Butler stepped up when it mattered the most, scoring crucial points to keep his team’s aspirations alive.



His fantastic performances drew comparisons with other Heat legends, as he looks destined to have his jersey retired in South Florida. But according to Andre Iguodala, Butler also reminds him of Kobe Bryant.



<h2>Andre Iguodala says Jimmy Butler’s mentality reminds him of Kobe Bryant</h2>



“You always look back and say ‘how is Jimmy getting it done?’ He can’t shoot threes, can’t go left. Whatever they say about Jimmy he figured it out,” Iguodala said on the Gil’s Arena podcast.



“I see him dribble with the right hand left and pull-up for three against Milwaukee this year. He’s probably the closest that I’ve seen to Kobe Bryant with that mentality of just man, Jimmy will figure out a way for us to win… This dude got a Kobe Bryant will.”


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Butler definitely has something special apart from his talent, and that’s his competitive nature. While any Kobe comparisons will always make noise, the Heat star certainly has a desire to win that makes those around him better.

Former NBA champion compares Jimmy Butler to Kobe Bryant

Former NBA champion compares Jimmy Butler to Kobe Bryant - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">James Harden</a>&nbsp;has made it loud and clear that he doesn’t want to play for an<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;</a>team that has&nbsp;Daryl Morey&nbsp;ever again. This is yet another of his multiple tactics to force his way out of a team, this time, the&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Philadelphia 76ers.</a>



Harden has proven to be unreliable in the playoffs, and his reluctance to honor his contracts could also scare multiple teams away. Add his history of parties and injuries and his steep salary to the list, and&nbsp;trading him could be a problem.



But there could still be some teams interested in acquiring the&nbsp;former&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/houston-rockets" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Houston Rockets&nbsp;</a>star,&nbsp;as he led the league in assists just last season. But which are those teams? Let’s break it down.



<h2>NBA Rumors: 3 Likely Destinations For James Harden</h2>



3. Chicago Bulls:&nbsp;The Chicago Bulls are desperate enough to trade for him, and they reportedly inquired about his availability. He’s not the guy they need by any means, but he could at least get them back to the playoffs.



2. Miami Heat:&nbsp;The Miami Heat have craved another star for years, and it doesn’t seem like the Portland Trail Blazers are willing to give them Damian Lillard. If Pat Riley and Heat Culture can’t fix Harden, then there’s simply nothing to do.



1. Minnesota Timberwolves:&nbsp;The Timberwolves went all-in on Rudy Gobert, so they clearly want to compete and won’t hesitate to pay up to get things done. They need a pass-first kind of guy, and have enough assets to make an appealing offer to pair him with Anthony Edwards.

NBA Rumors: Realistic destinations for James Harden

NBA Rumors: Realistic destinations for James Harden - Bolavip US

Four years ago, when <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jimmy-butler" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jimmy Butler</a> shockingly decided to sign with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miami Heat,</a> some fans mocked him and claimed he would never even come close to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Finals.



Fast forward to this day, and Erik Spoelstra’s team has made it to the ultimate stage twice, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals three times in the past four years. 



That’s why Heat star Bam Adebayo is sick and tired of all the talking, which is why he called the doubters out and demanded the media finally gives them the respect they deserve.



<h2>Bam Adebayo Disses The Heat’s Haters</h2>



“The fact that me and my team have been to the Finals twice out of the last four years, but every year they be like, ‘Aw Miami is a dark horse,’” the big man said on Playmaker HQ. “‘Miami’s not good enough to do that again. The first time was a fluke.’



“And it’s a lot of disrespect,” continued Adebayo. “Like I said, we’ve been to two Finals in the last four years. We’ve been to three Eastern Conference Finals in the last four years, and I don’t think anybody else in the East has done that in the last four years.“



“And we’re doing it with 60 percent of our roster being undrafted and helping us win and somewhat at a point, carrying us to the Finals. You know for me, I feel like that should be a bigger story than it is. Everybody always seems to be shocked when we’re at the top again,” he concluded.


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One time is a fluke, but two is no coincidence. This Heat team is for real, regardless of who suits up for them, so maybe it’s time we start giving credit where it’s clearly due.

Bam Adebayo rips the media and Miami Heat doubters with strong take

Bam Adebayo rips the media and Miami Heat doubters with strong take - Bolavip US

Trading for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jimmy-butler">Jimmy Butler</a> in 2019 was the best decision the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> made in a long time. The 6x <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> All-Star made the team competitive again, helping it reach two NBA Finals in four years.



His competitive nature and leadership skills made Butler a fan favorite in South Florida, where he hopes to win a highly desired championship. He came close in 2020 and 2023, but it’s still a pending task.



However, things could have been very different for both. Danny Ainge revealed in an interview with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles in the Players’ Tribune podcast Knuckleheads that he tried to get Butler for the Boston Celtics.



<h2>Former Celtics GM Danny Ainge reveals he tried to get Butler</h2>



“Some of the best trades I ever made were the ones I wasn’t able to make,” Ainge said, as quoted by ClutchPoints. “I was trying to get Jimmy Butler from Chicago when I was in Boston, but they wanted a lot. So we didn’t do it. And it ended up being Jaylen [Brown] and Jayson [Tatum]. Both of those draft picks.”


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It’s safe to say that both Heat fans and Butler are glad that this didn’t come to fruition, as they are perfectly happy together. The Celtics, however, found a way to grow with Brown and Tatum. Now they only need to go the distance and win a championship to silence the doubts.

NBA Rumors: Jimmy Butler could have been traded to another team in the East

NBA: Jimmy Butler could have been traded to another team in the East - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> have won three <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA </a>championships in the 21st century, the most recent being in 2012-2013 when LeBron James was still part of the franchise along with other stars like Chris Bosh and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/dwayne-wade">Dwyane Wade</a>. Pat Riley was the president of the franchise at the time.



It’s been more than 10 years since the Miami Heat won an NBA championship, but they have lost two finals in the past four seasons, which indicates that they are still a competitive team even without LeBron James.



Pat Riley doesn’t get all the credit for the Miami Heat’s success. Erik Spoelstra, who has been the head coach since 2008, has also played a key role in the team’s growth.



<h2>Who is the player who carried Miami Heat according to Pat Riley?</h2>



According to Pat Riley, the player who carried the Miami Heat was Dwyane Wade. Riley said at the 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony that Wade “carried our franchise” and “brought so much to our organization.”



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">"He carried our franchise…he&apos;s bought so much to our organization." Hall of Famer and Heat President, Pat Riley gives Dwyane Wade his flowers 👏 <a href="https://t.co/Cze8iDqxX0">pic.twitter.com/Cze8iDqxX0</a>— NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1690505690815606784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Pat Riley has won a total of nine NBA championship rings, most of them as a head coach between 1982 and 2006. He has two rings as president of the Miami Heat and one as a Lakers player.

NBA: Pat Riley reveals who carried the Miami Heat, not LeBron James

NBA: Pat Riley reveals who carried the Miami Heat, not LeBron James - Bolavip US

Plenty of Western Conference teams have enough firepower to make a championship run and dethrone the Denver Nuggets. Therefore, everyone needs to add as many pieces as possible to reach far in the postseason.



An obvious title candidate is the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a>, as any team that has <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> in the lineup can be. Having a healthy <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis">Anthony Davis</a> could go a long way in their success, but they must be prepared in case injuries harm them again.


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The Lakers have a solid rotation with talents like Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura among others. Regardless, reliable role players such as Christian Wood are never too many when it comes to winning a championship.



<h2>Christian Wood May be Seeking a Contract with Miami Heat</h2>



Almost the entire offseason there have been rumors about a potential signing of Wood by the Lakers. However, the veteran is still available as a free agent. This means any team in the league with a decent cap space could get him.



Another team where he could land if the Lakers don’t sign him is the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a>. Wood likes the idea of joining the Heat, especially if they trade for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard">Damian Lillard</a>, as was reported by Jovan Buha of The Athletic.



Wood can be a good option for teams looking for an offensive piece that fits their mold. He can be that at a fairly productive level if he is in a loaded lineup, but he lacks defense so much that he might not receive a great contract despite having a free path to sign anywhere.

Lakers Target Christian Wood Might Land in Another Contender

LeBron James’ Message to Dwyane Wade for his HOF Induction

Watch: Pau Gasol Honors Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant in HOF Speech

Lakers Target Christian Wood May Prefer Another Contender - Bolavip US

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