Miami Heat Rumors: 3 star players that Miami could pair with Jimmy Butler for the 19-20 season

The Miami Heat have been in a state of decline since LeBron James left the franchise for Cleveland back in 2014. After reaching four-straight NBA Finals between 2011 and 2014, Miami has won just one playoff series over the past five years. Last season marked the second time in three seasons that they missed out on the playoffs altogether, and Dwyane Wade's retirement only made the situation worse.

However, the Heat managed to pull off an unlikely sign-and-trade for Jimmy Butler in free agency, and Pat Riley has set out to land a second-star to play alongside the four-time All-Star. While Miami has yet to secure a co-star for Butler, the front office continue to explore potential deals, and here are three players that could head to Miami in the coming months.

#3 Chris Paul

Chris Paul has spent the past two seasons with the Houston Rockets

The Heat attempted to land Russell Westbrook from the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this summer, and the team could now target the man who replaced him.

Chris Paul's stock around the league has taken a major hit since signing a four-year deal, $160 million contract with the Rockets last summer, and Houston was delighted when the Thunder agreed to swap the veteran for Westbrook. However, while Paul has struggled with injuries, his decline has been much exaggerated.

Last season, CP3 managed 15.6 points, 8.2 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game and his relentless will to succeed would be a perfect match for notoriously self-driven Butler. The Heat will prefer to acquire Paul following a potential buyout due to his enormous contract, although the franchise also has the resources available to complete a trade for the point guard.

#2 Kevin Love

Kevin Love is expected to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers

After losing LeBron James last summer, the Cleveland Cavaliers responded by announcing its intentions to contend - and the Cavs backed up their stance by signing Kevin Love to a huge four-year, $120 million contract. However, things quickly fell apart without James, and the franchise has since hit the reset button.

Love now appears the odd-man-out on an increasingly youthful Cleveland roster, and despite penning his extension last summer, his new deal doesn't kick into gear into this season. Love also turns 31 in September, and the former All-Star probably doesn't want to spend his remaining prime years on a team that has no chance to compete.

The Heat would need to send Goran Dragic and James Johnson to Cleveland to get complete a trade, although neither is too much of a loss. And, if Love can reach the same level of performances he showed during his time in Minnesota, the Heat could be a real force in the East.

#1 Bradley Beal

Bradley Beal has developed into the Washington Wizards' biggest star

While Miami continue to look at several options, there is little doubt that Bradley Beal is the star that Riley wants to field alongside Butler. The 26-year-old is quickly developing into one of the NBA's best guards, and Beal's performances have been good enough to warrant back-to-back All-Star appearances.

According to the Miami Herald, Riley is so determined to land Beal that he is prepared to take on the remainder of point guard John Wall's contract. On the Wizards side of things, the organization is trying to sign Beal to a new long-term extension, although Beal has yet to respond to a three-year, $111 million offer.

It is also worth noting that Beal alluded to a potential move to Miami earlier this month, and he could try and force through a trade as the season progresses. Ultimately, the Heat still face a big task to land Beal, although it appears Riley will do everything to get his man.