Would trading for Kemba Walker help or hurt the Miami Heat cause?
It never fails.
Every year since LeBron James left South Beach, the Miami Heat have gone from been linked to late season cuts, to connected to every big named free agent or trade option that seemed available.
Such precedence is the type that team president Pat Riley has set by introducing the world to his theory of NBA whale shopping. Hence why it was obvious what would happen once the Charlotte Hornets put Kemba Walker’s name on the market. The Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman took the time to attack the question of what if:
"“But putting the cap aside, if the Hornets were to deal with the Heat, I would think the preference would be Bam Adebayo over [Hassan] Whiteside, due to simple economics. And, unfortunately, about the only viable cap filler for the Heat at the moment would be Wayne Ellington. So would you trade Justise Winslow, Bam Adebayo and Wayne Ellington for Kemba Walker?”"
There are plenty of pros to this situation.
Miami’s main nucleus would go untouched, creating a starting lineup of Walker, Hassan Whiteside, Goran Dragic, Josh Richardson and James Johnson (or Kelly Olynyk). And before it is even asked, Dragic and Walker would not have a problem working in the backcourt together.
Offensively, the natural thought is that Walker would immediately take over the ball-handling duties, but both guards are willing passers who can play on and off of the ball. However, Walker is the natural scorer out of the two. Making a move to shooting guard more ideal, in a league that plays considerably small.
Walker would be able to focus on what he does best—scoring 21.7 points per game—and put up the numbers Heat fans believed they would be getting with the re-signing of Dion Waiters.
Defensively, the 6-foot-3 Dragic would take the job of guarding the oppositions 2-guard, and Walker and Richardson would equate to an aggressive defensive duo, averaging 1.2 and 1.3 steals per game. The move would also allow Waiters to move to the sixth man role, next season, while the team figures out the potential logjam.
The cons come in what Miami would be losing.
Adebayo has shown flashes of game altering potential, with his ability to get easy baskets, protect the inside and step out to defend on the wing. On a greater level, the Heat would be giving away their most effective three-point shooter, at 41 percent on 7.2 attempts.
No need to go shopping for new jerseys yet though. Miami has no first round picks, so the likelihood of a deal happening are very slim.
Next: Miami Heat crumble in front of the Brooklyn Nets, 101-95
In other words, tonight’s game is probably the closest you will see to Walker sharing the court with Heat players.