The Miami Heat are now looking towards the future with the 2017 free agents, but it seems like the arms race has already started.
The Heat saw their Conference rival, Boston Celtics, end up closer to landing Kevin Durant then they did. The Celtics also eventually signed Al Horford-a player that was rumored to be on the Heat's radar.
With the Celtics threatening to build a superteam by trading for Westbrook (details here), Pat Riley could sense that the Celtics could keep Westbrook since they have his Bird Rights and they have a strong team with Al Horford.
According to Howard Beck of Bleacher Report, the GMs around the league believe that Westbrook is not intending to stay, and based on how Thunder GM Sam Presti moves, he may trade Westbrook "sooner than later."
"What I'm hearing here in Las Vegas from some GMs is that not only do they think Westbrook will get traded, that it'll be sooner rather than later, probably before the season starts," Beck said. "And that the most likely destination right now would be the Boston Celtics."
If there is an executive in the league who would not just sit down and watch a rival build a dynasty, it would be Pat Riley. "The Godfather" did not let his superstar Dwyane Wade walk just to watch another team rise to the top. If the Celtics gain the inside position on Westbrook, his long-term plan could end up in shambles even before it begins.
In a feature article on Forbes, Evan Massey has discussed the possible trade package the Heat could assemble to challenge the Boston Celtics.
"Goran Dragic could be one of the centerpieces of any trade package, although it would take a lot more than him to snag Westbrook," Massey said. "There is no telling whether the Heat would be willing to move second-year forward Justise Winslow in a trade for Westbrook. He is just 20-years-old and the sky is the limit from what he showed as a rookie."
It's likely that the Heat would not have a choice with Winslow. He is the only asset that could help them match the value of the Brooklyn Nets' picks, and it might not even be enough. The only ace is that those picks are still unknown-based on how the Brooklyn Nets' perform in the next season.
In that light, Massey said "if the Thunder are interested in a trade package that the Heat can put together, Riley would be wise to do whatever he can to close the deal."
Short of Hassan Whiteside, who will be the main piece that Westbrook will tandem with, the Heat could be willing to move anyone. We must remember that they accepted losing Dwyane Wade, the face of their franchise.