Former Miami Dolphins star Chad Johnson hinted that the Miami Heat can reunite LeBron James with his former teammate, Kyrie Irving. Johnson has made several insider-style predictions and statements on the “Nightcap” podcast over the past few months. He made the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade prediction, too.
Now, Johnson is dropping hints on Irving joining James in a Heat uniform. During Sunday night’s segment with co-hosts Shannon Sharpe and former NBA player Joe Johnson, “Ochocinco” said:
“What about the opportunity of Kyrie going to Miami … I’m telling y’all again ahead of time — I continue to throw these hints out, but nobody is really picking up what I’m putting down. What are the chances of Kyrie going down to Miami?”
Irving is under contract with the Dallas Mavericks and will earn $39,491,282 next season. It makes it tricky for the Heat to trade for Irving but not entirely impossible. The Heat can use Andrew Wiggins and one or two more salary fillers in a hypothetical trade. They will have to include multiple second-round picks, too.
However, adding Irving would significantly hinder their cap flexibility, as the majority of their payroll will be divided among three players, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, who are earning a combined salary of $108.3 million.
As for his on-court fit, Kyrie Irving, if LeBron James joins too, will be a solid addition alongside the core of Davion Mitchell, Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Heat need a shot creator and ball handler, and Irving can play that role.
Irving is also one of the few guards who can play well off the ball. He can share the playmaking duties with James.
Heat to lose out on former MVP if they sign LeBron James: Report
The Miami Heat have become an attractive landing spot after trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo. While LeBron James remains linked to his former franchise, 2017 MVP Russell Westbrook is also weighing his options and has interest in joining the Heat.
However, according to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, the Heat are an option for Westbrook only if James doesn’t sign.
“According to a league source, Russell Westbrook is a candidate to join the Heat, but not if LeBron signs in Miami,” Bondy wrote on Sunday. “Westbrook, 37, is a diminished version of his former MVP self but still averaged 15.2 points over 64 games last season with the Kings.”
LeBron James and Russell Westbrook were teammates between 2021 and 2023. It was one of the most turbulent stretches of their respective careers as Los Angeles failed to make the playoffs in its only full season with the duo. Before Westbrook got traded in 2023, the Lakers were on track to finish outside the top eight again.
For Westbrook, the tenure also hindered him personally. He went to Utah, where he got bought out. Westbrook never signed a lucrative contract again and was diminished to role player and sixth-man status while playing for the LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings.
Read more:
- NBA Insider’s Latest Report Suggests Concerning Lakers Scenario With Jonathan Kuminga and $88,762,439 Wing
- NBA Analyst Jokes LeBron James Would Call His Wife on Some Nights to Complain About Jaylen Brown Chucking Shots if He Joins 76ers
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