Here at All U Can Heat, we’ll be running a series in which we build and contemplate (fake) trades between the Miami Heat and all 29 other NBA teams. In part four, we looked at a trade with the Pelicans. In part five, we dial up the San Antonio Spurs.
It’s a hard task to follow-up from our last fake trade involving Anthony Davis and the new Orleans Pelicans.
But this proposal certainly has some legs.
In the summer of 2015, and despite not possessing sufficient salary cap, Miami Heat team president Pat Riley managed to secure an audience with All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge.
While the meeting was unsuccessful, as expected, it nonetheless demonstrated the interest level the Heat front office have in the highly versatile Aldridge.
Fast forward two summers, and the Heat again face the possibility of making a pitch for Aldridge’s services. Ever since the San Antonio Spurs were swept in last seasons playoffs by the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, the future of Aldridge with the franchise has been brought into question.
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Aldridge’s numbers have certainly taken a hit since joining the Spurs. However, this is not all his doing. In his last season with the Portland Trail Blazers, Aldridge averaged 23.4 points, 35.4 minutes and 63.4 touches per game. This past season with the Spurs he averaged 17.3 points, 32.4 minutes and 53.9 touches per game.
A five-time All-Star and career 19.1 points per game average, Aldridge would become the focus of the Heat offense.
Furthermore, Aldridge would fit terrifically under head coach Erik Spoelstra’s position-less basketball mantra.
A frontcourt rotation consisting of Aldridge, James Johnson and newly acquired Kelly Olynyk would present Spoelstra with amazing flexibility when coming up against a host of different teams and lineups.
Which brings us to the players departing. Last season, Hassan Whiteside lived up to the expectations of signing a $94 million contract by posting 17.0 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. And while Whiteside is now recognized as a legitimate two-way player, some of the numbers say otherwise.
Last season, the Heat posted a defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of 105.3 when Whiteside was on the floor, and 102.2 when he was resting. And at 28, it’s unclear how much more Whiteside can develop moving forward.
The other piece is Tyler Johnson, who established himself as one of the premier sixth men in the league. Last season, Johnson averaged 13.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 732 games – all off the bench. And while the four-year, $50 million deal Johnson signed last summer sounds more than reasonable, it comes with a catch. Johnson is owed $38.4 million over the final two years of the deal due to the “poison pill” inserted in the contract.
The Heat will also be receiving promising forward Davis Bertans. The 6-foot-10 Latvian debuted last season with the Spurs, and showed promise throughout the season. On top of his athleticism, Bertans also hit at an impressive 39.9 percent clip from 3-point range. This included nine games of hitting three or more 3-pointers, including two games where he hit five 3-pointers.
Rounding out the deal is another second year player, point guard Dejounte Murray. The Spurs’ 2016 first-round pick, Murray’s court time was limited playing behind Tony Parker and Patty Mills. But while his opportunities were limited, he certainly shone at as a starter. Over eight games, Murray averaged 9.5 points and 3.3 assists per game, which included a 24 point performance against the Denver Nuggets.
While losing Whiteside and Johnson is a real loss to the Heat rotation, Johnson’s contract makes dealing him all the more worthwhile. And on top of the two young studs added to the Heat’s rotation, the addition of a legitimate All-Star in Aldridge certainly provides the Heat roster with a great deal of polish.
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With the Heat moving further toward a pace-and-space offense, Aldridge’s ability to stretch the floor and play both the 4 and 5 spot means this is a deal the Heat should seriously pursue.