Miami Heat trade target: DeMarcus Cousins, Houston Rockets
And perhaps the biggest wild card trade candidate for the Miami Heat, DeMarcus Cousins. This is probably the unlikeliest of scenarios of the three players listed, but easily the most intriguing one. A few things would have to happen in order for this to even become a possibility.
For one, the Houston Rockets would have to be willing to trade him. Essentially, that would mean Houston doesn’t believe they’re a playoff team. That is a difficult first domino that would need to fall.
At 10-9, winners of six games in a row, the Rockets are actually sitting in the 8th spot in the Western Conference. They’d have to fall out of the playoff picture, almost entirely, for Houston to be sellers (you’d think).
After that domino falls, the Rockets would also have to come to the conclusion that they won’t have an interest in re-signing Cousins. Then, and only then, would they be open to a trade.
DeMarcus Cousins may not be an all-star player anymore, but is still a highly productive player off the bench at this point in his career. He would offer some veteran experience and added depth off the bench for the Miami Heat, should they be able to pry him away from Houston.