Report: Heat, Thunder talks over Westbrook deal at ‘stalemate’

The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported Thursday that Oklahoma City’s trade demands for Russell Westbrook have resulted in a “stalemate” in trade discussions with the Miami Heat.

Jackson said that the Oklahoma City Thunder asked for two of the three following players — Bam Adebayo, Justise Winslow and Tyler Herro, the player the Heat selected with their 2019 first-round pick last month. Miami has refused the Thunder’s demands — at least thus far, according to Jackson.

The Heat signed Herro to a rookie contract yesterday, meaning that he cannot be traded for 30 days. He has impressed in summer league, which may be why Oklahoma City has asked for him in return for Westbrook.

I’m glad that the Heat have refused Oklahoma City’s demands. As I’ve discussed, I don’t want Miami to give up young players like Winslow and Adebayo for Westbrook. Starting the season with Westbrook and Jimmy Butler, who will both be 30 years old at the start of the season — without many promising young players or draft picks to boot — isn’t a recipe for success.

Pat Riley should remain firm and tell Oklahoma City that he is only willing to give the Thunder contracts that would come off the books before Westbrook’s deal does — with four years and $170 million left. That includes Goran Dragic, who has one year left on his deal, and James Johnson, Dion Waiters and Kelly Olynyk, who have two years left. Meyers Leonard, whom the Heat just traded for in the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade, has one year left on his contract, with a salary of $11.2 million.

One team is going to blink. Thus far, the Heat haven’t.