Tom Brady versus Miami...Heat? Celtics recruiting Kevin Durant with Patriots help

Miami fans are used to seeing Tom Brady do everything he can to beat them. They are used to Brady having outstanding games against Miami and they are used to, in recent years, getting the best of Brady in Miami, while Brady seems to always win up in the Boston area.

But, what happens when Brady versus Miami is in the Hamptons? This week, Brady is at it again. Only, this time, he is trying to beat the Miami Heat, not the Miami Dolphins.

Maybe the Heat will be able to give us a sad Brady moment.

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Brady joined Boston Celtics President of Football Operations Danny Ainge and the rest of the Celtics recruiting contingent in meeting with free agent Kevin Durant in the Hamptons on Saturday. Boston and Miami are among the six teams that are visiting with Durant. Durant is expected to make his decision on joining a new team or returning to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.

Durant has previously said Brady is his favorite athlete of all time. The Celtics made the right move in bringing him along for the meeting.

The Heat will meet with Durant on Sunday.

The Thunder remain the favorite to land Durant, keeping their 2007 second-overall pick. The Golden State Warriors are considered the most likely landing place for Durant if he does not return to Oklahoma City, while the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs complete the list of teams chasing Durant.

The Clippers are said to have “blown away” Durant during their meeting on Friday, but a report from Los Angeles Times reporter Ben Bolch indicates Durant may have already ruled out the LA franchise:

The Heat are seen as long-shots to land Durant. They do not have a lot of salary cap space - though they can find creative ways to move money around - and they have several large question marks surrounding the team right now. Free agent Dwyane Wade is listening to offers from other teams as he looks to leverage the most money possible out of Miami. Chris Bosh has had blood clot troubles the last two years, and it is not definite that he will be able to play this year.

This year could also be an important part in recruiting Durant for next year, when he could again be a free agent. Durant is expected to sign a one-year contract with a one-year player option (a 1+1 contract), allowing him to opt-out of the deal next year, when he hits the 10-years played mark, allowing him to gain a larger portion of a team’s salary cap, a cap that is expected to jump again next season. Durant could simply opt-out, then re-sign with whichever team he joins this year, similar to how LeBron James has used the 1+1 contracts the last couple of years to re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Neither the Celtics nor the Heat may end up with Durant this year, but it has set up a Brady versus Miami battle again. Hopefully, if one of the two do win the sweepstakes, it is Durant heading to South Florida, and not New England.

To keep up on the latest news as the Heat meet with Durant, check out SB Nation’s Hot Hot Hoops.