NBA: Kevin Love, D’Angelo Russell Could Ruin Heat's Chances At Landing Giannis, Kawhi

The addition of Kevin Love and D’Angelo Russell is likely to ruin Miami Heat’s chances at signing Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kawhi Leonard in 2021.

After successfully signing Jimmy Butler, the Heat has been viewed as a potential playoff contender if the team would be able to add another superstar. Russell Westbrook was once perceived as a good fit with Butler but recently, Love and “D’Lo” are starting to make more sense for the Heat.

However, according to Heat insider Ira Winderman, not only does Love and Russell to Heat makes less sense but it will also put the team in a bad position to bargain for Antetokounmpo and Leonard in their free agency year.

“D'Angelo Russell is under contract for three more seasons beyond this season. In other words, such a trade would take the Heat out of 2021 free agency and the possible Giannis Antetokounmpo-Kawhi Leonard market,” Winderman told reporters.

“The Heat certainly will have ample opportunity to scout Kevin Love, But the answer here, if the Cavaliers could be tempted by something from the Heat roster, is similar to the answer above. Love is under contract through 2022-23, and therefore also would take the Heat out of 2021 free agency. So, again, would Jimmy Butler-Kevin Love be enough of a Big Two for championship contention?,” Winderman pointed out.

Love’s name has already been consistently linked to rumors involving the Miami Heat . But facts are suggesting that Love is unlikely to sign with any other teams. The Cavs star still has three years and more than $90 million remaining on his current deal and Cavs general manager Koby Altman already shut down any notion that the team was going to trade Love, Cleveland Plain-Dealer reported.

“He knew this was going to be a process. He knew we were going to bring in some younger guys. He knew we were going to build. He was all in for that,” Altman said at a press conference.

Russell on the other hand, has also been thrown into the rumor mill and many think he might be shipped off before February’s annual trade deadline. As per Mark Medina of USA Today Sports, this season determines how the Warriors could make use of Russell in the future, Total Pro Sports reported.

“It depends on how this season plays out. If the Warriors are still in the playoff hunt, they are better riding that out and then evaluating options in the summer. Plus, D-Lo’s value could be higher after having a productive season in Golden State. If it becomes clear they are a lottery team, the Warriors should extract as much value from a D-Lo trade as much as they can,” Medina said.