The Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks were named as three potential suitors for Kyrie Irving if his contract talks with the Brooklyn Nets really go south. However, Marc Stein notes that the Miami Heat could also be a player in the Irving sweepstakes should the Nets look to trade him.

From Stein's Substack:

Yet we should also file this away for potential down-the-road relevance: Miami is believed to have some level of interest in joining the chase for Irving — should the Nets reach the point of actively trying to trade him — and would figure to be a more legitimate landing spot than the teams initially mentioned given the Heat's various trade assets.

Stein acknowledges that Irving might not seem like a Pat Riley #HeatCulture guy, but he also notes that Heat star Jimmy Butler is an Irving guy. There's also the fact that Kyle Lowry is declining and was a liability at times in the playoffs as he battled through injury. Irving obviously isn't the most reliable player, but he's much younger than Lowry and still in his prime.

If Miami actually does join the fray for Irving, Lowry could perhaps be used as salary to try to acquire the Nets star. Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson are other obvious trade chips, plus whatever draft capital the Heat would want to offer.

As of right now, it still seems as if Irving and the Nets will work something out, even amid rumblings about the Lakers being a significant threat. But if this thing breaks down, it seems as if Miami could join the party and try to make a play for the mercurial point guard.