NBA: Moves that East playoff teams need to make to take a step forward

Miami Heat: Trade for another star

The miracle run to the 2020 NBA Finals was followed up by a sweep by the eventual champions. Clearly, there was a lack of offensive production. The Miami Heat only scored 98 points per game, Bam Adebayo wasn’t aggressive, and star Jimmy Butler shot a horrendous 29.7 percent from the floor. Not one player on the floor for Miami showed that they could be a primary scorer.

The Heat are constantly in rumors to acquire superstars. They were finalists for James Harden, and are now rumored to be interested in Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard. If they are able to acquire one of these players, it will help alleviate their scoring woes.

Now, general manager Pat Riley should go all in and trade for one of them. This may be the only time he has all the assets. Tyler Herro, Precious Achiuwa, and KZ Okpala are all young assets under contract. The Heat can also dangle Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn as bait in a sign-and-trade. Combining Robinson’s projected salary, first-rounders, and other young players gets the Heat close to the return a team would ask for.

The question is, can they finally pull it off?