The Miami Heat are making a smart gamble by acquiring Trevor Ariza for the playoff push.
At the NBA Trade Deadline last season, the Miami Heat acquired Jae Crowder and Andre Iguodala in hopes that their veteran presence would help push the team in the right direction. After making a run to the NBA Finals, it’s safe to say that the gamble paid off.
Miami is looking to replicate that move this season by acquiring Trevor Ariza from the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Heat sent Meyers Leonard and a second-round pick to OKC in exchange for Ariza, who hasn’t played in a game this season for the Thunder.
Ariza may not be in a position to help Miami as Crowder was last season, who the Heat has missed in key moments this season, but could play a similar role to Iguodala. Plus, adding another Iguodala-like piece would help this team expand their rotation and keep some of their wings fresh and healthy heading into the postseason.
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It’s difficult to predict what to expect from Trevor Ariza
Ariza, 35, hasn’t played in a game this season and averaged eight points and five rebounds per game on 44 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent shooting from 3-point range between his stints last season with the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers.
He’s another 3-and-D wing that the Heat could throw on the floor – and they’re certainly going to need all they could get their hands on as they prepare for the playoffs.
Miami has done a great job of recovering from their 6-12 start to the season. They’ve won five games in a row and 11 of their last 12 contests. They’re fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 22-18 record. Since Jimmy Butler’s return to the lineup after missing time with an injury and sitting on the sidelines due to health and safety protocols, Miami is 16-6.
The Heat looks like an entirely different team since the start of the season and taking a shot on a veteran such as Trevor Ariza is a low-risk, medium-reward type of move that echoes similarly to what the team did at the NBA Trade Deadline last season.
It’s tough to predict what kind of impact Ariza will have, if at all, for the Miami Heat heading into the push for the playoffs and the postseason, but this is exactly the type of move that could pay dividends for the team in the way of another deep playoff run.