At 12-10, the Miami Heat have gotten off to a moderately slow start this season. And now, after missing out on Damian Lillard, James Harden, and Jrue Holiday this past summer, they are back in the market for some star reinforcements. According to league insider Chris Mannix, the Heat are expected to aggressively pursue a trade before February's deadline. Among the list of potential targets? Raptors forwards OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam.
“I would expect [the Miami Heat] to be aggressive," wrote Mannix. "Maybe that means a Pascal Siakam. Maybe that means an OG Anunoby. That’s someone I don’t think they’d hesitate to pull the trigger on because you could re-sign those guys if you’re Miami.”
Just a few months ago, the Miami Heat were at the top of the basketball world after pulling off an upset to advance to the NBA Finals. But after losing several key role-players, and failing to replace them with any proven veterans, it's fair to say that Miami took a step back in terms of overall talent and potential. But with enough assets to make a move, it's not too late for them to shock the world with a huge blockbuster trade.
Best Trade Targets For Miami
Ranked 14th in offense and defense this season, the Heat have been painfully average even with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo being mostly healthy through the first few weeks. Outside of those two guys, and the impressive performance of rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., nobody has stepped up for the Heat as as a consistent and reliable scoring option.
So, with a need for some kind of spark, what options will the Heat consider? For help in the backcourt, Miami could pursue a guy like Zach LaVine, a young score-first shooting guard who could thrive as a part of "Heat Culture." Of course, the Raptors could work as a potential trade partner given where they are as a team and the kind of players they have to offer. Arguably the biggest need for Miami right now is a starting point guard and former Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon could fill that role better than Kyle Lowry has so far.
Everybody Fears The Heat
Throwing aside the numbers, and the win-loss record this season, the Miami Heat are a team that nobody wants to face in the postseason. After Jimmy Butler's masterclass led him to the Finals last summer, he put the whole world on notice and proved that even after an up-and-down season, the Heat have what it takes to beat the best of the best.
So, even at 11th in the standings, nobody is counting Miami out this year and it could just take one or two more moves to make them favorites in the East. Over the next few weeks and months expect the Heat to be involved in all kinds of trade rumors, and their trajectory this season could change drastically depending on who they sign. For now, the Heat are just comfortably coasting by as they wait for the opportunity to secure a trade that shakes the entire NBA world.
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