One of the leading teams vying for both Donovan Mitchell and Kevin Durant is the Miami Heat (KD specifically put the Heat on his two-team list).

For either, a deal is not close to being reached, and draught picks are a contributing factor.

Two of the Miami Heat's first-round draught picks are available for trade. Assuming the Heat and Thunder can agree to modify the protections on their first-round pick in 2025 (which is currently lottery protected; if it doesn't convey the first year, it becomes unprotected in 2026), that number might increase to three.

In the Donovan Mitchell contest, two is not enough. The Jazz recently acquired four first-round picks (plus a 2022 first-round pick in Walker Kessler) as part of the Rudy Gobert trade, but they still want more for Mitchell as they rebuild. The Knicks are the favorites because they can trade up to eight first-round picks.

Although the Nets are more interested in players than just picks, two first-round choices are probably not enough to acquire Kevin Durant.

Because of this, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report on his Please Don't Aggregate This podcast, the Heat are seeking trades to add draught picks. There are no specifics on how that would take place.

Even though additional picks make it reasonable, it might not be sufficient.

Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson are the cornerstones of any Heat trade deal, along with picks and other players (Bam Adebayo is off the table and cannot be sent to the Nets

 unless Ben Simmons is moved due to the mysterious rule about not trading for two players on maximum rookie extensions).

The Jazz is hesitant to extend Herro's contract because he is eligible for one this summer and would become a restricted free agency in 2023 if no deal is made. Especially in light of Herro's request for a maximum contract. He might not receive the complete ultimate, but he will secure a big deal. To avoid increasing their payroll at this time, the Jazz is not interested in trading for the Knicks' RJ Barrett (Barrett, too, is up for a big new contract). Robinson has four years and $74.4 million left on his deal, which he has signed (a last year is a player option).

The Nets want an All-Star in the Durant situation, and according to league sources, they are only somewhat interested in a Herro and Robinson combination, even with more selections.

Never write Pat Riley off. He has a talent for pulling off the unexpected and seemingly unachievable. The Heat is in the running for both players for a reason, too.

However, the Heat will have to pay a high price for future first-round draught picks if they want to achieve anything.