A new Miami Heat big 3 with Joel Embiid
In this first package, the Miami Heat would be creating a new big three centered around Jimmy Butler, Joel Embiid, and Tyler Herro. The big question is whether that big 3 would be better or even rival what the Heat could potentially have hypothetically with Damian Lillard, Jimmy, and Bam Adebayo. It’s close and this would certainly be the Heat betting on Embiid’s long-term ability to remain healthy.
Embiid is nearly four years younger than Lillard and this move would theoretically leave the Heat’s championship window a bit more than a big move for Lillard would. But this big 3 largely hinges on Herro taking another step into stardom. There’s no guarantee that happens.
Nevertheless, in this deal, the Heat would send Bam, Duncan Robinson (as a salary filler), Jaime Jaquez Jr., two future first-round picks, a second-round pick, and pick swaps to the Sixers for Embiid and De’Anthony Melton.
In this deal, Miami would be able to attain one of their young prospects (Nikola Jovic) and still create a core that would be able to compete in the Eastern Conference for the foreseeable future. The big question is whether this team would be good enough to win a title this season. That’s far from certain, and that’s why this is not an ideal trade idea.