With the trade deadline looming, a lot of NBA teams are now looking to improve their roster to either bolster their chances of making the playoffs, or just be competitive enough and have a positive end to their season.
One team that could be looking to wheel and deal on February is the Miami Heat, who have constantly looked at potential trades to land a star that will replace future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade once he retires by the end of the season.
The Heat have pursued forwards Carmelo Anthony and Jimmy Butler in the past, but no deal came to fruition. They will still try to add firepower though, as they try to climb up the Eastern Conference standings. They are currently 7th with a 19-20 record.
However, Heat reporter Ira Winderman suggested that Miami should be looking at their long-term future, saying that instead of chasing a star, the team should trade for cap space.
I think the Heat will be willing to trade players for future cap space. I'll give you one, trade for Chandler Parsons, not to play him, but he only has two years left on his deal. If you make a deal like that, James Johnson, three years left. Kelly Olynyk, three years left. Dion [Waiters] three years left. You could have more money for 2020 free agency. So instead of flipping them for a star, I could see by the trade deadline, the Heat flipping some of those contracts for salary cap space.
The Parsons trade makes sense if Miami would even consider it. Should they trade for the Memphis Grizzlies' forward, they will be taking in his guaranteed $38 million, but will only last for two years.
Trading Johnson/Waiters and Olynyk would allow the Heat to get off of at least two three year contracts, which would make them major players when the 2020 free agency arrives.
Of course the Grizzlies would likely decline that offer, but Winderman is right. Miami should be looking at similar deals to start their rebuild as early as this season.
Unloading some of the long term deals they've committed to in 2017 is going to be a great start.
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