Former NBA champion Brendan Haywood just dropped a bomb, saying that even after absolutely massive moves for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson, the Miami Heat *still* need to trade for Kyrie Irving if they want to win the Finals. It’s a wild take after the summer Miami just had.
Miami Went ALL In, So What Gives?
The Heat clearly meant business from the jump this offseason. They missed the playoffs last season and came out swinging, making it clear they were going to be aggressive. It all kicked off with the absolute stunner of a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. ESPN’s Shams Charania broke down that huge deal: The Milwaukee Bucks sent their franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami. In return, the Bucks got Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks (including No. 13 in the NBA draft), one pick swap, and one second-round pick. Miami sent unprotected first-rounders in 2031 and 2033, along with No. 13, a pick swap in 2030, and a 2033 second-rounder.
But they weren’t done! Miami then grabbed five-time All-Star guard Klay Thompson after he cleared waivers following his release from the Dallas Mavericks. The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported Thompson agreed to a $5.6 million first-year salary, which left Miami with flexibility to fill out the rest of their roster. These moves should have them looking like legit championship contenders, right?
The $347 Million Question: Is Kyrie the Closer?
So, with Giannis and Klay in the mix, why is Haywood still talking about needing more? He’s convinced Miami needs a “closer.” “I know Giannis don’t really want that jumper in the last 5 minutes,” Haywood stated, “they need to figure out on bringing somebody in , we heard they were in on possibly Kyrie… when I look at Miami right now they might need to go find that closer… that’s why I brought up the name Kyrie, you talk about winning championship , you’re closer gotta be 1 of those ones.”
Irving, who has made $347 million throughout his career and is a 9x All-Star and future Hall of Famer, could potentially become available if the Mavericks hit a rough patch to start their season. If Dallas struggles, Haywood believes Miami absolutely *must* look into making a deal for him to seal the championship.
The Heat are clearly hungry for a Finals run after missing the playoffs, and they’ve stacked their team with elite talent. But is Haywood right? Will Giannis and Klay be enough, or does Miami truly need that $347 million “closer” in Kyrie? A lot might depend on how the Mavericks perform in the early going. This is going to be wild to watch unfold as the NBA season gets into full swing.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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