While this time of year generally goes hand in hand with the likes of gift giving, colder weather, a new batch of resolutions and Justin Bieber’s “Under The Mistletoe” (no? Just me?), it also coincides with something else: NBA trade talk. And the Miami Heat have certainly been the center of speculation as of late.
Currently 16-10, the Heat are sitting pretty in third in the Eastern Conference, a feat that many doubted could be accomplished coming into this season. After a year of endless injuries, leading to the heartbreaking inability to make it to the playoffs, it seems as though all is finally right again in South Beach.
Of course, there was that whole Gerald Green saga, which is still an unsolved mystery. And yes, Miami let go of some games they probably should have had in the bag. But all in all, things are looking up.
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So how is it that such a team is still involved in the trade rumor mill?
Well, for starters, it seems as though the Heat as a franchise will forever be in the limelight. Whether the organization is playing host to a super team, or struggling miserably, Miami seems to always be on the proverbial cover of the league tabloids.
Then, there is also the fact that the Heat are once again considered a team worth joining. It is clear that they are on the rise once more, making Miami an attractive destination to those looking to get out of their contracts (more on that in a second).
And finally, as with most things these days, a lot of it comes down to money. Money available to spend, money being sought to dispose of, just…money. Which of course only gets magnified when your president is Pat Riley.
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Is there a trade on the horizon for the Heat though? Maybe.
Although Riley himself as denied any truth to the chatter, the media outlets have recently had a field day hinting towards Hassan Whiteside’s departure.
The big man, who is currently averaging 12.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4 blocks per game, came aboard the team last season. And since then, has made quite a name for himself. Aside from his stature and sheer strength (attributes that most talented centers possess), he can also score, setting him apart from the rest. He has quite obviously become a key element to Miami’s success, and he himself seems happy there.
However, his name has come up several times in regards to both DeMarcus Cousins and Dwight Howard.
Cousins, who plays for the Sacramento Kings, is one of the league’s top players: the 25-year-old is posting up 24.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 per game. But there has been trouble brewing between the big man and head coach George Karl for some time now. And it may be time to try something new.
Howard, who used to be a fan favorite but has since earned a villainous reputation, is reportedly looking for leave the Houston Rockets. Averaging 13.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, the veteran is still going strong. However, he has not seemed happy since leaving the Orlando Magic in 2012, after playing for them for eight years.
King James Gospel
On paper, Cousins would be the ideal situation for the Heat. He is an offensive powerhouse but obviously also covers the other end of the court, effortlessly. With plenty of fuel left in his tank, he would also be able to soak up knowledge from veterans like Chris Bosh. And with two more seasons on his contract ($17 million for next year), he would likely cost the organization less in the long run than what they may have to pay Whiteside, who will enter free agency this summer.
Howard on the other hand, would seemingly only make matters worse. Having caused nothing but trouble after leaving Orlando, signing to the Los Angeles Lakers, and ultimately ending up Houston, he is playing his worst season of basketball since his rookie year. He also has a $23.3 million player option for next season.
But what about keeping Whiteside?
It could be argued that really, the only reason to let go of him is to clear cap space.
Whiteside may be hot-headed at times. And yes, this can cause foul trouble. (Though if you want to talk about bad tempers, have you watched both Cousins and Howard on a bad night?) But his overall athleticism is undeniable. And there is still room to improve. After all, he is only 26.
At this moment in time, I would vote for sticking with Whiteside. It seems unlikely that the Kings would go for such a trade-off and Howard is not someone I see fitting into Miami basketball as a whole. But as we all know, things in the NBA can change in a blink of an eye…so whether or not a trade will make better sense down the line, is anybody’s guess.