3-Time All-Star Almost Joined Heat in $55 Million Deal

There are always going to be a few 'what if' stories surrounding every team. In the case of the Miami Heat, that number is significantly higher than the average.

The Heat have been linked with so many high-profile players over the years but the majority of those rumours have led nowhere. Just earlier this summer, Miami was suggested as a possible destination for players like Donovan Mitchell and Kevin Durant.

It is believed that the Heat had tried to sign DeMar DeRozan as well before he ended up joining the Sacramento Kings.

Let's turn back the clock a bit though. Let's take you back to 2003. Gilbert Arenas was a free agent and by the sound of it, it looks like a move to Miami was a real possibility.

He was selected in the second round of the 2001 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors and ended up outperforming all expectations set for him, and started all 82 regular season games in 2002-03.

While speaking on The OGs , Arenas mentioned how the Heat wanted a backcourt of him and Dwyane Wade. But ultimately, Pat Riley was not comfortable paying an unproven youngster $55 million and the move did not happen.

Instead, Arenas would end up joining the Washington Wizards and playing the best basketball of his career for them.

Many people forget how good Arenas was in his prime. He had a run of three seasons with the Wizards when he averaged 25.5, 29.3 and 28.4 points per game.

He was selected as an All-Star for three straight years. But injuries ended up derailing his career after that and he never rediscovered his old form.

One can only wonder what a trio of Wade, Arenas and Shaq could have achieved in Miami. Perhaps they would have won more than one Championship.