Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: G/F Eric Gordon, F David Nwaba 

Houston Rockets Receive: G/F Duncan Robinson, F Lamar Stevens, 2023 First-Round Pick (MIA) 

Miami Heat Receive: G/F Caris LeVert 

Of course, building a contender is one thing. It’s a challenge, but with a good process, most rebuilding teams will at least eventually give themselves an outside chance at winning a title. 

Building a champion is an entirely different proposition. 

Indeed, climbing to the NBA’s mountaintop is shockingly difficult. It requires a string of excellent decisions. For proof, look to the Miami Heat. 

The Heat last hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2013. At that time, they were built around the elite trio of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh.

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Since then, they have been regular contenders, but they haven’t managed to find their way back to the championship. That’s not a knock on the organization: the Heat are one of the league’s best, and rarely misstep in terms of roster decisions. 

Instead, it’s a nod to how difficult securing an NBA championship really is. Does landing LeVert put them in a better position to accomplish that task?