The Miami Heat are in a very weird position this summer. They just made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, yet according to a bunch of reports, they’re looking to make big-time trades.
Their name has been thrown around in trade rumors involving both Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell this summer. Miami has always been known to chase stars, so it’s not too surprising.
However, when you consider where they are as a franchise and the assets they have, it doesn’t really make sense for a couple of reasons. One, they have a good team already, and two, none of their packages are the best packages.
NBA Trades: Why are the Miami Heat trying to swing for the fences?
Let’s start with the first reason there – the Heat are already a title contender. Sure, losing PJ Tucker in free agency stings, but as a whole, they are still the same team as last year.
They are still the same team that was one win away from the NBA Finals, the same team that was the first seed, and the same team that has great young pieces.
Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry are solid pieces to help them win now, while Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Max Strus can help keep them competitive in the future.
But they’re still trying to blow things up. And it makes some sense, because every team should always be looking to improve, but that brings us to the second reason.
The Heat do not have the best trade package in any of these deals, and unless the Brooklyn Nets or Utah Jazz take a serious downgrade in talent, they won’t be making any blockbuster trades.
Looking at potential Durant trades, the Heat can’t give up Adebayo because of Ben Simmons. Immediately, that would make the Toronto Raptors’ trade package more intriguing, as well as some other teams with young stars.
Then, in the case of Mitchell, the New York Knicks, who are very clearly interested, have a much better trade package than the Heat. Sure, Herro is the best player, but New York can offer substantially more picks.
So, as the Heat continue to throw their players into trade packages that will likely never end up coming to fruition, we have to ask – why don’t they just run it back and let their young players develop?