Miami Heat: 10 moves for high-caliber players by the NBA trade deadline

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 19: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 19, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Cavaliers 131-123. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

In this trade idea, the Miami Heat send Hassan Whiteside to the Cleveland Cavaliers, in return for, All-Star Kevin Love.

The Cavaliers signed Love to a huge extension going into 2023 this past summer, as they hoped to keep some kind of consistency in the roster after LeBron James left in July. And while I don’t necessarily blame them for making that move, it will hurt them for the next few years.

Getting out of that long-term deal by upgrading Tristan Thompson to Whiteside, is a no-brainer. The Cavaliers have a solid, young team, that is looking to add to Colin Sexton, Cedi Osman, Alec Burks, and now Whiteside becoming a helpful addition.

As for Miami, this isn’t exactly the trade you want to see as Love will make so much money over the next 4-years, but to me, it is definitely better than having Whiteside. The goal for the Heat here is to start Love at the 4 next to Adebayo, spacing out the floor and getting more 3’s up at a fast rate.

Certainly Love isn’t the only option to make that happen, as Olynyk has been doing just fine in a Heat jersey as a stretch-four, but Love is one of the best stretch-fours in history, which immediately gives me the feeling of … why not?

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