While the Miami Heat may have missed out on Damian Lillard, that doesn’t mean they still can’t pursue a superstar on the trade market.
A Woj bomb of epic proportions dropped Wednesday night. Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. Wow.
Giannis and Dame Dolla teaming up… Looks like we have a new favorite out East ladies and gentlemen. Usually, when one team profits, another must suffer.
After a prolonged and at times painful pursuit, Miami walked away from the Lillard sweepstakes empty-handed. The Heat refused to empty their pockets in order to land the multiple-time all-star, sticking to their guns, they missed out on Dame Time.
While Bucks fans currently rejoice and Heat fans commiserate, it may be time for the Heat to turn that frown upside down. While Lillard is no longer an option for the Heat, they are clearly still in the market for a superstar-caliber player capable of pushing an already-loaded roster over the top.
Can the Heat potentially find another superstar via trade to bring to Miami and help Jimmy Butler and company win a championship?
And if so who?
Here are five superstar players the Miami Heat could target via trade after missing out on Damian Lillard
Zion Williamson
A few seasons ago, the thought of the New Orleans Pelicans trading away Zion Williamson would have been unthinkable. A potential generational talent with the world at his feet. The Pelicans would be crazy to trade Williamson away… right???
Fast forward to today and don’t be too surprised if the Pelicans are tentatively taking calls on his once prized asset. The best ability is availability and for one reason or another, Zion simply hasn’t been on the floor enough for the team that drafted him No. 1 overall in the 2019 NBA draft.
Not only did the Pelicans draft him No. 1 overall, but they have also given him a five-year max extension. So why would New Orleans move off of Zion?
Since the pre-draft process, there were rumblings that Zion was heavily wishing for the New York Knicks or the Los Angeles Lakers to win the draft lottery. His wish was to land in a huge market that would allow him to maximize his potential not only on the court but allow him to become a megastar off the court.
While New Orleans is an amazing city, it doesn’t have the same far-reaching market appeal as New York or L.A.
Zion has also struggled with injuries and his physique throughout his time with the Pelicans.
In short, it seems for all intents and purposes it could be in the best interest of both sides for both sides to explore a “fresh” start of sorts.
While Miami doesn’t have the same market size as New York or L.A., you can make the argument that it is a sports hotbed at the moment. Add in the fact that the Heat is one of the best developmental teams in the league and it’s easy to see why Zion makes sense.
A motivated and healthy Zion Williamson could push the Heat, who already has a championship-caliber core, over the top.
Jrue Holiday
What a weird turn of events for Jrue Holiday.
This past week, Holiday spoke to Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel stating his intentions on his future with the Milwaukee Bucks.
"Would love to [sign an extension],” he said. “Before I even won here I think I said I’m a Buck for life and I mean that like deep in my heart. I don’t want to play for any other team. I think we have a chance to continue to do great things as the Bucks team and organization so I want to be in Milwaukee.”"
The very next day, he is traded away in the deal that would send Lillard to the Bucks. Ouch. While it is a business at the end of the day, you have to feel for Jrue.
Portland has made Holiday available for trade. While Miami and Portland currently don’t have a great relationship due to the animosity regarding the failed Lillard trade, maybe they could reconnect on a deal that would land the Heat one of the best defensive guards in the NBA.
Holiday would be an exceptional addition to the Heat roster. While he doesn’t offer superstar ability like Zion Williamson, what Holiday does on the floor is arguably more important. Holiday is one of the premier guard defensive stoppers in the league.
Put him on the opposing team’s best guard and he has a very good chance at locking them up all game while still getting points and assists at an above-average level. Holiday would be significantly cheaper than Zion and would arguably be a better fit as the Heat is currently constructed.
Zach LaVine
The Miami Heat are clearly in the market for a guard right now.
They do not seem to be fully satisfied by the production of the aging Kyle Lowry and their hope is to potentially move on from Lowry and find a more than suitable replacement capable of helping them win the Larry O’Brien trophy while the championship window is still open.
Could Zach LaVine be the answer? On offense, LaVine could be a monstrous addition to the Miami backcourt.
His ability to play both guard positions and his ability to stroke the three ball with consistency as well to finish strong at the rim gives the former dunk contest legend a well-rounded that would benefit what Miami already has on the roster.
On the defensive side of the ball, LaVine is somewhat average, if not above average at best.
While healthy, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso significantly make up for LaVine’s defense. In Miami, the defensive responsibilities will firmly be on the former UCLA star’s shoulders.
With Tyler Herro offering a relatively similar skillset for the Miami Heat currently, is it necessary for the Heat to trade for LaVine?
No, but adding the Bulls guard allows for the potential of Miami to completely overpower teams with their offensive output. If you can overwhelm teams with fast-paced offense and numerous scoring threats, then it has the potential to lead Miami to their next championship.
Julius Randle
This former Los Angeles Laker and current New York Knicks star could be an ideal addition to the Miami Heat roster.
While most teams have built their rosters around the Golden State Warriors model of one player in the paint and four shooters on the perimeter, the last two NBA champions have shown that what truly matters right now and what has mattered for a very long time before the anomaly that is Steph Curry is a dominant inside out game.
In Nikola Jokić, the NBA has one of the more dominant big men in the paint since the peak of Shaquille O’Neal.
In Giannis Antetokounmpo, you have a player capable of not only bullying you in the paint but also running at you with a head of steam and posterizing you on a nightly basis.
In Bam Adebayo, the Miami Heat have a very good center who excels at getting to work down low, grabbing rebounds, and assisting his fellow teammates on the perimeter with his excellent passing out of the post.
What is better than one big man who excels at getting to work down low, grabbing rebounds, and assisting his fellow teammates on the perimeter with his excellent passing?
Two big men that excel at getting to work down low, grabbing rebounds, and assisting his fellow teammates on the perimeter with his excellent passing.
In Bam Adebayo and Julius Randle, the Heat would have a modern-day version of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Two players who combined together, can bully the bullies.
James Harden
Another year, another James Harden trade request.
Alongside his former teammates, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, the former OKC trio at this stage in their careers are extremely well-traveled. Harden has made it abundantly clear that he no longer wishes to be part of the Philadelphia 76ers while Daryl Morey is still involved with the franchise.
With it seeming increasingly more likely that Harden is on the move than Morey, it is time to fire up the NBA trade machine and see who is the next “lucky” winner of the James Harden sweepstakes.
All jokes aside, when Harden is healthy, motivated, and in shape, he is still one of the more difficult players to guard in the entire NBA.
He is a serious threat from the three-point line, he is one of the best playmakers in the league and when he needs to score, he can score with the best of them in the entire league.
At this stage of his career and after all the mud-slinging at his current boss, it might be time for the Heat to potentially buy low on Harden and see if they can squeeze the last good years out of Harden before he calls it a day.
At worst, he is an upgrade over Kyle Lowry, at best he finds a rich vein of form and can push the Heat over the top to potentially win an NBA championship. With one year left on James Harden’s deal, it should be a risk that the Miami Heat are willing to take in pursuit of a ring.