Miami Heat column: It’s time for Pat Riley to scrap the plan and start anew

Who will make a deal for Miami’s scraps?

There are six teams the Heat have made a single trade with. They are the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns.

Then there are the teams the Heat have dealt with twice: the Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets and Boston Celtics. (Side note: Many think that Riley and Celtics general manager Danny Ainge don’t get along. Clearly, they haven’t been averse to working together.)

And then there’s the New Orleans Pelicans. Since 2014, the Heat have made three trades with Pelicans general manager Dell Demps.

This doesn’t mean Miami’s front office won’t deal with another team in the coming days, but it’s a place to start if you’re wondering where some current Heat players could be playing if moved.

Portland, Orlando, Charlotte, Boston, and New Orleans could all use some help as they make their individual playoff pushes. Might they call Riley about Ellington, McGruder or Waiters?

Dallas and Phoenix can each use a point guard. Do you think they’ve checked the price of Dragic?

Memphis made pillars Mike Conley and Marc Gasol available. Knowing the importance those guys played for that franchise, you’d think the Grizzlies front office would want to send them to an organization where they know they’ll be taken care of.

This isn’t meant as a prediction, but this is how the league works. The Heat need help, and who better to ask for a little help than from friends?