On January 13, at the season’s halfway mark, the Heat had just dropped their fourth straight game and sat at 11-30, on track for a top-three draft pick. Since that day, however, the team hasn’t lost a single game, and according to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, the improbable winning streak has drastically changed how Miami will approach the trade deadline. The team is now more likely to be a buyer than a seller this month, sources tell Deveney.
“They were willing to listen to whatever anyone wanted to offer,” one league executive said of the Heat. “But those calls have changed, because now they’re looking for pieces to help them as they are.”
According to one of Deveney’s sources, the Heat were never overly eager to trade marquee players like Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside during the season. However, Dragic, in particular, had drawn interest around the NBA. Deveney identifies the Bucks as one team that had interest in the veteran point guard, in addition to previously-reported suitors like the Kings and Magic.
Still, even if the Heat weren’t shopping Dragic or Whiteside, the team considered likely to move other veterans on the roster before the deadline. But that was before the current 12-game winning streak — now, the team is in the market for power forward help, sources tell Deveney. Miami is reportedly looking for a big man who can shoot from outside and play solid defense, which makes it unsurprising that the club was linked to Serge Ibaka this week.
The Heat’s trade assets are somewhat limited, since they’ve already moved their 2018 and 2021 first-round picks, which prevents them from sending out their 2017, 2019, or 2020 first-rounders. As such, any trade for veteran help would likely have to involve a young player such as Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson, or Justise Winslow.
At 23-30, the Heat are still likely prioritizing their long-term goals over short-term success, so it would be a surprise to see the team give up much young talent to improve this year’s squad. But the fire sale of veteran players that appeared likely a month ago is no longer in the cards either, making it an interesting deadline for the franchise.
We can still trade Whiteside and improve for this year whIle gaining future assets. Ibaka is a 5. He would be a great get, but for that position, either as a starter, or supplanting Willie Reed, who has played well. No way would I trade any of my young guys for a couple of months of Ibaka, especially to Orlando. There are only a couple of players I’d trade them for right now. We definitely could still use a 4, though I’m more comfortable there now that we have James Johnson and Okaro White. If they’re going to add to this team, I’d say the 3 and 4 spots are probably what make the most sense, although I still very much prefer to move Whiteside
I trust in Pat he will make the best for this team now and beyond…
Does anyone know if Bosh’s contract has any trade value? We know that they can release him and if he’s not picked up by another team that might risk some arrangement for him to play that could put him back on their cap space. But are there potentially other options that his contract essentially works as a trade chip to even a substantial trade or balance some three team deal? Or is his contract scarred in that way due to passing physical requirements?
Just curious
Since no other team can apply for the medical exception, it has no value unless he comes back and show’s he’s still the same player. Even then, there’d be trepidation by teams to give up much b/c the perception would be he can have another issue at any time. Thankfully, there’s only 2 years left on it, and the cap is going up, so it shouldn’t be completely debilitating in comparison to other situations around the league
That’s what I figured, but wasn’t 100% sure on. They’re most likely handcuffed from making any moves than before the deadline with how the team is playing. No reason trading away young talent, and whiteside and dragic should both be safe
I still badly want to trade whiteside
I’ve thought of it this way. Whiteside and reed have similar play abilities, Whiteside has more confidence. If Whiteside were to be traded, there’s a dynamic of the two rotating that would be lost. So why mess with what has currently worked and what I felt had foundation to it even from the start of the season
B/c Hassan Whiteside isn’t a Miami Heat player. He is a lazy stat chaser, and a quitter. I don’t want him on my team, and they need to get rid of him for assets before others figure that out. Also, his money could be used in free agency.
The other teams already know that though. The heat well overpaid for him. If you made a list of top centers, its possible he’d be put in an honorable mention category. His job now is to go out and be aggressive and once he gets in foul trouble early, you have a suitable rotation. As a fan, that’s all you can hope, cause I don’t see him moving unless another team wants to over deliver for him.
I’ll take a young guy and a 2017 1st rounder for him every day of the week
And when I say top centers list, its not top few, its a lengthy list. Ha, just to avoid any confusion
Whiteside for Jaylen Brown\Jae Crowder and a non nets pick
I’ll give you Whiteside and Waiters and Babbit. We’ll take Rozier, 2017 Nets pick, Amir Johnson, Jonas Jerebko, and Tyler Zeller?