The NBA trade deadline is nearly upon us, and the Miami Heat have struck a deal with the Houston Rockets at the buzzer. This is one of the biggest trades to happen this year and likely elevates the Heat to a new level in the Eastern Conference. As for the Rockets, they acquire some nice pieces to build on, while also moving up in the 2022 draft.
As for the details of the trade, the Heat acquire Victor Oladipo, while the Rockets receive Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, and a 2022 draft swap, per Shams Charania.
Sources: Houston traded Victor Oladipo to Miami for Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and a draft swap.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 25, 2021
The Miami Heat walk away from the deal as a much better team than before. Already having Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo on the roster, Miami has been in a pretty good spot. However, they're currently ranked fifth in the Eastern Conference, but after adding Oladipo to the roster, this team has a great chance to rise the ranks in the East. Oladipo has been on a tear this year, averaging 20.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.
The best part about this trade for Miami is they didn't give up any serious assets for Oladipo. The roster still has Goran Dragic, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson, providing the Heat with plenty of depth for a deep playoff run. Oladipo is a solid player and should thrive in Miami's rotation. He'll be allowed to play an important role and share the spotlight with Jimmy Butler. Miami now has the star power, a dominant presence down low, perimeter defense, elite shooting, and the depth to be a serious contender. They surprised the world last year making it to the Finals, and they have as good a shot as anyone to do it again. Especially with Oladipo on board.
As for the Rockets, they're clearly rebuilding for the future and attempting to gain as many draft picks as possible. Avery Bradley is a decent player, averaging 8.5 points per game. He's a bit more known for his play on defense and likely won't provide much for the Rockets' future. The same can be said for Kelly Olynyk, as he's averaging 10.0 points and 6.1 rebounds.
If anything, this deal for the Rockets was nothing more than a cap dump and moving up in the 2022 draft. The front office clears up a ton of cap space for the 2021 offseason, giving this team something to look forward to after this season. Considering how bad this team is this year, a move like this made the most sense for the organization to improve in the future.
TRADE GRADES
Miami Heat – (A+)
Houston Rockets – (B)
Miami clearly wins this trade as they improved their roster by an enormous amount. Oladipo should serve to be a valuable player for the remainder of the season, and potentially beyond as well. He's going to be a great second option in the backcourt and the Heat now has the roster to compete with anyone in the league. For the Rockets, this move was more focused on creating breathing room financially. They did move up in the 2022 draft as well, which could turn out to be a big payoff. It's a move that doesn't necessarily benefit the team this year but creates opportunities for this organization down the road.
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