The Miami Heat have much to take away from the irregular season that recently concluded. After finishing as the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo led the Heat on a Cinderella run to the NBA Finals. Erik Spoelstra had his team playing like a poor man's version of the Golden State Warriors thanks to their ball movement and shooting, with youngsters Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson making a name for themselves.
For all their success as the underdog, the Heat still fell short of the ultimate goal against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. Now, Miami will be looking to upgrade its roster in the hopes of making another deep run in 2020-21. It came out Wednesday that the New Orleans Pelicans are talking with contenders about a Jrue Holiday trade, and the Heat should think about making a hard push for a deal.
While some may consider Herro as basically untouchable unless a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes truly available, there are others who think it would be worth it to include the young guard in a trade for Holiday:
Have addressed this before as a very good fit for the Heat. And, yes, even if it would possibly mean putting Herro in play. Heat are in a seize-the-moment moment. https://t.co/OFbIUABQmg
ā Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) November 4, 2020
Herro turned in a strong rookie season before breaking out in the bubble, putting forth some massive performances and impressing with his clutch shotmaking. The 20-year-old is fearless and looks like he has the makings of a future star.
Of course, Herro is still very young, and he showed that at times during the playoffs. Holiday is a legit two-way stud who would form a fearsome trio on both ends with Butler and Bam if a trade were to happen. It's understandable if Miami wants to cash in a young talent for a proven veteran in order to have a better chance of winning a title now.
For the Pelicans, they already have the makings of an elite young core with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram leading the way. Adding Herro would only make their long-term future brighter.
One complication of a deal is the money. The former Kentucky Wildcats standout is only set to make $3.8 million with the Heat next season as part of his rookie-scale deal, which is nothing compared to the $26.2 million Holiday is owed. Holiday also has a $27.1 million player option for 2021-22, which would complicate a chase for Giannis. However, Miami would likely be able to maneuver money around if Antetokounmpo was actually serious about coming.
To make the salaries work for this deal, veteran Andre Iguodala and his $15 million for next season would almost certainly have to be included. Iguodala may not be thrilled after orchestrating a move to Miami this past season after refusing to suit up for the Memphis Grizzlies, but he could be a solid veteran for Stan Van Gundy's squad.
There would likely be some other moving parts to make things work, with young players such as Kendrick Nunn, KZ Okpala and Chris Silva candidates to head to New Orleans. The Pelicans may demand draft capital as well, and while the Heat are a bit short on that, the defending Eastern Conference champions likely wouldn't be looking to give up too much with Herro already included.
As mentioned, a Heat lineup with Holiday, Butler and Adebayo would be formidable. Toss in Robinson and the potential return of players like Goran Dragic and Jae Crowder and you really have something special. While some may think Miami's run in the bubble was a bit of a fluke, this group would be a contender in the East once again. They would certainly be enticing for Giannis.
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