With James Harden hitting the East Coast to join the Brooklyn Nets, the Miami Heat—last season's Eastern Conference champs—are still looking to improve their roster and compete for the 2021 NBA Finals. Washington Wizards star shooting guard Bradley Beal is very much in that equation if reports are true.

The Heat have Beal set in their mind's eye, with a pairing next to All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler and big man Bam Adebayo firmly within reach. According to the latest report, the Heat are “highly” interested in trading for Beal should he want out of D.C.

Per Barry Jackson in the Miami Herald:

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[Miami hopes] the Wizards make guard Bradley Beal available, which could be as simple as Beal eventually saying he wants out, as Harden did with Houston. The Heat’s interest level is high, a source reiterated. At this point, there’s no indication that Washington is making him available.

The question is whether Miami would have enough to interest Washington if it offered a 2025 first-rounder and 2027 first-rounder, Tyler Herro, and either Duncan Robinson or Precious Achiuwa and cap fillers. Whether the Heat would even offer that much is unclear.

If Washington insists on Herro, Robinson and Achiuwa and picks, that would likely be too much for the Heat’s liking.

The Nets gave up essentially every possible first-round pick lawfully available to be traded in the Harden deal with the Rockets. Three first-round picks alternating every other year starting in 2022 with rights to swap picks in the alternating years starting this year.

Now, Beal will not cost as much as Harden, but tearing the St. Louis native away from the Wizards will surely cost the Heat multiple first-round picks and young players like sharpshooters Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson.

If it gives the Heat the ability to compete with the firepower of the Nets' Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving, Miami president Pat Riley will have to make a tough call to ensure star power in South Beach again.