Now that Bam Adebayo is expected to miss the next six weeks while recovering from thumb surgery, the Miami Heat will need to make some adjustments to their game plan. While they fight to maintain the third seed in the Eastern Conference, Miami will have to look for ways to stay competitive.
This is especially true seeing as Adebayo's untimely injury now places more of the scoring and defensive playmaking load on Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry. In their pursuit of another East crown and surprise run to the NBA Finals, the Heat will be on the lookout for potential trade targets. With all this in mind, we'll now discuss three players they should pursue a trade for with Adebayo sidelined due to his thumb injury.
Currently in the midst of a productive season playing for the struggling Detroit Pistons, Jerami Grant is one player who would perfectly fit the mold of the Heat mantra. His well-rounded two-way play would allow him to thrive under the direction of title-winning head coach Erik Spoelstra while giving the Heat some much-needed depth and versatility in their frontcourt.
His smooth scoring touch and elite defensive presence would provide Miami with a huge boost and give them another All-Star caliber talent to play alongside Butler and Lowry while Adebayo works his way back to full strength. Plus a big four of Butler, Lowry, Adebayo, and Grant would elevate the Heat's status as title contenders and possibly make them the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
As one of the most fearsome big men in the league, Steven Adams has always been a welcome addition to any team he's played for. On the Heat, Adams would fill a major need and give them the league's most tenacious frontcourt. In Adebayo's absence, he would bring plenty of size, toughness, and low post dominance on both ends of the floor – especially playing alongside Butler and Lowry while forming a stellar frontcourt pairing with P.J. Tucker.
Having the luxury of Adams to hold down the fort for them in the paint would be a match made in heaven for Miami. Upon Bam's return, the Heat would have a starting five of Butler, Lowry, Adebayo, Adams, and Duncan Robinson which would give them arguably the scariest starting line-up in the NBA. This would also give them a physical presence at the center spot, which is something they've been sorely lacking since they traded Hassan Whiteside.
In the modern NBA, Robert Covington has carved a niche for himself as a 3-and-D combo big that's been a productive role player for every team he's played on. In Miami's innovative style of position-less basketball, Covington would give them a perfect balance of size, length, defensive prowess, and limitless scoring range.
As an athletic big that can run the floor, defend well and play the center spot in small-ball line-ups, Covington would fit in seamlessly with the Heat while getting the opportunity to compete for an NBA championship. In Adebayo's absence, the Heat will need to make up for their lack of two-way dominance, and although Covington isn't the All-Star talent that Bam is, he does give them a potent combination of scoring and defense in their frontcourt that they'll be without in the meantime.
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