Miami Heat: 20 helpful players the Heat could trade for by the deadline

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MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 18: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Miami Heat on November 18, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have a logjam issue a lot like the Heat, however, their logjam could be summed up by guys who just don’t play well with LeBron James. Which, to be honest, is probably one of the only problems I could live with as a general manager — comfortably, too.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brandon Ingram have unquestionably been the two players that the Lakers have had issues with playing next to LeBron. I can not see Magic Johnson moving on from Ingram, as he is one of the better assets in the league, but I can see him grabbing a player like Wayne Ellington for KCP, as most teams could use a 3-point sniper like Ellington to play next to their superstar.

Ellington could be a J.J. Redick type player for LeBron’s Lakers and Caldwell-Pope would just be a potential sparkplug for the Heat, if-need-be.

However, I do not think this deal is worth Miami’s time, as it feels fairly linear and doesn’t move the bar much for the Heat. KCP is a good player and only 25-years-old, which seems to get lost in translation when he is criticized for being overrated. Head Coach Erik Spoelstra can help revive 32-year-olds careers, so I can see KCP’s 25-year-old career being easily revived by Spo.

Just for clarification, Richardson and Caldwell-Pope are the same age, so it could be worth making the deal for, potentially, a solid player.

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