The Miami Heat are finally heating up after a slow start to open the first half of the regular season. Due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols and the injury bug, the Heat’s record suffered drastically.
However, hope was in sight for Heat fans when their team won 14 of their last 18 games led by superstar Jimmy Buttler. While depth may have been the Heat’s strength in the past two seasons, there’s no argument that the team needs more bodies this season and could really benefit from a trade right now.
The Heat are in the Eastern Conference, which has loaded up with more superstar talent this season. The defending Eastern Conference champions are currently in fourth place in the East standings where teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks are ahead.
As much as the team may want to run it back, the Heat must invest in all star talent right now or even a role player who can boost their roster.
The second half of the season will not be easy for the Heat. They have 36 games specifically 18 at home and 18 on the road—nine of which are back to back games.
It helps that the Heat are one of the best defensive teams in the league however, they rank 26th in scoring and 25th in offensive rating. They could really benefit from a point guard who can help decrease Buttler’s load on offense or a veteran with playoff experience that can ferociously go up against other superstars and guide the Heat’s young core headed by Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson. Here are two trades they can consider:
P.J. Tucker
According to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, the Heat are one of if not the favorites to land Tucker. Tucker has made it clear that he wants out of the Houston Rockets, where he averaged 4.4 points and 4.6 rebounds a game this season. While Tucker’s current averages aren’t so appealing, a change of environment for the 15 year veteran might be. Tucker is a solid three point shooter who averages 35.9 percent from downtown and is a pest on the defensive end.
The Heat could really benefit from Tucker's defense, three point shooting, playoff experience and IQ on the court, which goes a long way in the post season.
However, here’s the catch: The Rockets want a young player in exchange for Tucker, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charnia. So this means, the Heat might have to give up their youth for a the 35 year old.
The Rockets might be asking for rookie Precious Achiuwa or KZ Okpala but this doesn’t seem like a trade the Heat will process. A potential exchange Pat Riley might want to consider is trading Chris Silva, Max Strus or Gabe Vincent for Tucker but it will be the Rockets’ choice since they hold the leverage for this Tucker deal.
Kyle Lowry
According to HoopHype’s Michael Scotto, the Heat are interested in acquiring Lowry ahead of the trade deadline.
A package that the Heat can offer for Lowry is the combination of Goran Dragic, Kelly Olynyk and Kendrick Nunn—three players who have been productive contributors so far for the Heat this season.
Lowry, who is on an expiring contract, will help the Heat with his three point shooting, point guard skills, leadership, IQ and toughness especially come playoff time.
Lowry will help decrease Butler’s offensive workload as well and serve as a general on the court. Nunn and Olynk were barely in the rotation during last year’s playoffs except when Adebayo and Dragic went down during the Finals. In a conference where James Harden, Jrue Holiday and Ben Simmons play floor general for their respective teams, the Heat might want to consider Lowry to contain these three. The 15 year veteran is currently averaging 18 points on 45 percent shooting from the field, 40 percent from downtown along with 7 assist and 5 rebounds per game.
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