Miami Heat: Unnecessarily losing Josh Richardson cost team realistic shot at contention

The Miami Heat’s lack of creativity in acquiring Jimmy Butler via a sign-and-trade cost them the chance to be a serious contender

The Miami Heat upgraded their roster this summer, losing Josh Richardson for essentially a better version of him in Jimmy Butler. But the team could have, and should have, found a way to keep both players and form the best perimeter defense East of LA.

The Heat were capped out during, and ever since the LeBron James-era. Following their inspiring second half run in 2016-17, they opted to retain free agents Dion Waiters and James Johnson, and add Kelly Olynyk, all deals that have proved to be significant overpays. This made them unable to sign Jimmy Butler outright, and only sign-and-trade for Butler. Only problem is, they weren’t creative enough to keep Richardson out of the trade.

Securing Richardson (and his bargain contract) was the only clear success of the 76ers’ otherwise questionable summer – there’s no guarantee Horford will stay healthy, or good the next four years, or that zero-time All-Star Tobias Harris will be anywhere near good enough to justify earning $180 million.

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As our 76ers fan friends at Hoopshabit wrote:

"“One example that amplifies Richardson’s ability to contribute at both ends lies in the fact that over the past two regular seasons, just two players in the league have recorded at least 290 triples, 200 steals and 100 blocks, per Basketball-Reference: James Harden and Richardson.”"

Giving up nothing to get a 6-foot-6 elite defender who can shoot, drive, and play-making just over $10 million annually was an unquestioned win for Philly. Losing Richardson was also an unquestioned loss for the Heat. They could’ve boasted three wing stoppers in Butler, Richardson, and Justice Winslow. Which begs the question: did they have to trade Richardson?

Chronologically, news broke that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were signing with the Brooklyn Nets before free agency *technically* began on June 30. The Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade wasn’t reported until almost midnight, seemingly enough time for the Heat to contact any team with cap room (including the newly-heartbroken Knicks). Simply put, the 76ers didn’t even need to be involved.

To make room to sign Butler, the Heat needed to move some of their overpaid bigs. They should’ve approached the Knicks, who went on to sign literally four power forwards, only one of whose (Julius Randle‘s) contract is guaranteed (aka desired) in 2020-21. Randle is the team’s “franchise player” but Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson and Marcus Morris will combine to earn $39 million this season, the only season guaranteed for any of the three.

The only explanation for these moves is the hope that one of these power forwards “pops” and the team is offered something like a first round pick.

Miami traded a 2023 first round pick to the Clippers as part of their Hassan Whiteside trade to clear space for Butler. Had they approached the Knicks about taking on Whiteside’s expiring $27.1 million contract, or Ryan Anderson’s $15.6M and Goran Dragic’s $19.2M expiring contracts, perhaps they could’ve traded the 2023 pick (and either their 2022 incoming second round pick from Philly/Denver, their last tradeable pick, or a young asset like Derrick Jones. Jr., to have the Knicks sign-and-trade Butler with cap space that was marked for Irving and Durant.

Or they could’ve roped in the Atlanta Hawks or Dallas Mavericks, both of which opened free agency with a max-slot. (Dallas actually balked at a potential trade because they actually wanted Olynyk and Jones, Jr. over Dragic.)

Yes, the Josh Richardson-led team failed to make the playoffs last year, but they were a young team (Richardson and Winslow were 25, emerging center Bam Adebayo was 22) with an old, semi-washed closer in Dwyane Wade. Plugging in Butler for Wade would’ve made them a playoff lock, and the projected improvements of the three aforementioned young guys could’ve made them a 50-win team in the depleted, post-Kawhi Eastern Conference. Winslow recently spoke of his sadness at losing J-Rich as a teammate, and his similarities to Butler.

Without Richardson, who is the 2019-20 Heat’s second best player? Winslow? Adebayo? Dragic? Perhaps Richardson would’ve proved redundant next to Butler, but he would’ve still held trade value, likely for a guard-hungry contender, like the Bucks, Lakers, or – gasp – 76ers.

The Heat’s rushed effort to get Butler likely secured them a playoff spot, but no hope of ever reaching the Conference Finals, and no future assets. Congrats?