NBA Trade Rumors: Heat Tried To Trade Cole, Granger To Pistons

NBA Trade Rumors: The Miami Heat tried to trade Norris Cole and Danny Granger to the Pistons, but Detroit was having none of that

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It’s one thing for Stan Van Gundy to do one solid for the Miami Heat, but he draws the line at two.

According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, the Detroit Pistons reportedly offered Jonas Jerebko to the Heat in exchange for Norris Cole. Although, when Pat Riley insisted that the Pistons also take Danny Granger, the Van Gundy simply declined.

"[via Heat Buzz — Miami Herald, H/T Hoops Rumors]An Eastern Conference general manager said Tuesday the Heat likely lacks the assets to make a meaningful move before the Feb. 19 trade deadline. He said Norris Cole has been mentioned in trade talks “but what are you going to get for him? He’s a backup. They don’t have much to give up. Josh McRoberts would have value for a team out of the playoffs. Birdman [Chris Andersen] would have value for a playoff team but a playoff team is not trading you a quality [wing] for him.” A source in contact with Detroit confirmed the Pistons offered impending free agent power forward Jonas Jerebko to the Heat for Cole. But as MLLive.com reported, Detroit rejected Miami’s demand that the Pistons also take Danny Granger, who’s due $2.2 million next season."

I’m sure this is one of those awkward situations where Riley felt pretty good that he was being offered something in exchange for Cole, that he decided to push his luck. Meanwhile, on the other end of the phone, here’s Stan Van Gundy, who was just trying to do the Heat a solid.

I suppose it’s a good thing that Riley believes that he can get something better than Jerebko in exchange for Cole, but has he even seen his backup point guard play at all this season? I mean, on most nights, he’s not even that.

No, Jerebko wasn’t going to change the fortunes of this team, but at what point to do start weighing the possibility of addition by subtraction if you’re the Heat? Because that’s something very real in the NBA (see the Detroit Pistons, ironically) and it could very well be in play for this team. Not saying that this is one of those situations, just stating that it’s a possibility.

Jerebko has appeared in 44 games this season and is averaging 15 minutes per game in those occasions, while averaging five points and three rebounds. Although, if you’re going to trade Cole, don’t you want to get some backcourt help in return? Unless the Heat really think they’ve found something in Tyler Johnson.

With eight or so days until the NBA trade deadline, it’s looking less and less likely that the Heat are going to find a trade partner of their liking for Cole. And, so far, that appears to be perfectly fine for Pat Riley.

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