NBA Trade Rumors: Should the Miami Heat trade Max Strus for Jae Crowder?
NBA Trade Rumors: With the whispers out there, we explore whether the Miami Heat should consider trading Max Strus for Jae Crowder.
Stretching back to the offseason, the Miami Heat has been linked to Jae Crowder who is awaiting a trade from the Phoenix Suns. Miami has a huge hole at the power forward position (with Caleb Martin starting in that spot for the Heat at the moment) and Crowder would make a lot of sense for the team.
Though, the problem with that is for the Suns to send Crowder to Miami, it has to be worth it for them. And according to a recent report, the only way the Suns would consider a deal with Miami is if they can acquire Max Strus.
Over the past couple of seasons, Strus has become a key part of the Heat’s success. Primarily on the perimeter in which he averaged 39 percent from 3-point range over the course of his three seasons in Miami.
Specifically, this season, he’s averaging 14 points and four rebounds on 36 percent shooting from deep off the bench for Miami. He’s essentially been the sixth man for Miami while making some spot starts for the team.
There’s a very real chance that Strus is a non-starter in trade talks for the Heat. And if so, there may not be a realistic way for a Crowder to Miami deal to get done.
What a trade could potentially look like
Hypothetically, what could a deal between the Heat and Suns look like? There are options.
One could include a Max Strus and Duncan Robinson package to the Suns in exchange for Jae Crowder and Dario Saric. Other options include a variety of supporting players going from the Suns to the Heat. But for the Heat to include Strus, Robinson’s contract would have to be involved.
Quite frankly, unless the Suns throw in a first-round pick, I’m not sure it’s worth it for the Heat. Strus is an emerging player that is in the final year of his contract. His best basketball could still very well be in front of him and I’m not sure that’s something the Heat should punt on. At least not yet.
The big question that the Heat would need to answer is whether swapping out one of the team’s most consistent spark plugs off the bench for a starting caliber 4 is worth it.
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Considering where the Heat is at this point with this core and how far away they may be from actual contention, I’m not sure that’s the smartest move.