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5 potential draft-day trades the Heat can make

By Wes Goldberg

Feb 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) goes up to block a shot by Miami Heat guard Tyler Johnson (8) during the second half at Barclays Center. Maimi won 108-99. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) goes up to block a shot by Miami Heat guard Tyler Johnson (8) during the second half at Barclays Center. Maimi won 108-99. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 30, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) drives to the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Gorgui Dieng (5) defends in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) drives to the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Gorgui Dieng (5) defends in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Riley works his Magic

Miami gets: Julius Randle, No. 28
LA Lakers get: No. 14

There are a few things at play here: (1) The obvious relationship that Pat Riley, the coach, and Magic Johnson, his former player, have. During a recent panel event that featured the two, Riley was asked if he’d be calling Magic about possible trades.

"“It depends on who calls who,” Riley said with a laugh. “If I called him first, then he ain’t gonna say anything. And if he calls me first, I’m going to say, ‘I know that I can make your team better.’ Let’s have a conversation. Let’s do this, forget about the cap ramifications and start talking about player personnel . . . and before you know it, I get a treasure of players. “We’re going to have the conversation.”"

(H/t the South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

(2) The Lakers could be willing to move someone like Julius Randle, who will be up for a lucrative extension after the 2017-18 season. The Lakers haven’t made it a secret that they will be focused on signing Paul George away from Indiana next summer, and they could end up losing Randle as a result. Especially if they aren’t able to clear cap space this season by trading (the untradable) contracts of Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov.

(3) Los Angeles already has two first-round picks, No. 2 and No. 28. But if they can turn the 28th pick into the 14th pick, Magic would get to kick off his tenure with not one but two lottery picks.

Randle is a versatile power forward who is working this offseason to reshape his body and add a 3-point shot. Now is the time to get in on the 22-year-old forward. The Heat would be getting a bigman who thrives in transition, can handle the ball and is working on his perimeter jumper. He’s a younger James Johnson with more upside.

Trading for Randle makes the Heat younger, and eliminates the need to re-sign Johnson to a lucrative contract, opening up more possibilities in free agency.

The Heat also get a late first-round pick in return, so they can still select a player in a deep draft.

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