Miami Heat: Has Miami been smart in trading their first-round picks?

5 of 7

MILWAUKEE, WI – MAY 17: Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts to a play against the Toronto Raptors during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 17, 2019 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Eric Bledsoe

Out of all the players on this list, Eric Bledsoe is the only player that has had a more than decent career so far. This trade is yet again linked to the signing of James and Bosh. During the 2010 draft, the Miami Heat had the 18th pick but instead of using that pick, they sent it to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Miami Heat traded Daequan Cook and the 18th pick for OKC’s 32nd pick. If you just look at the trade without any context, you would easily say that without any doubt the Heat got finessed.

But going deeper into the trade, you will find out that this trade was to clear cap space. With this trade, the Miami Heat got rid of Cook’s contract and the burden of having to pay the terms of a contract for a first-round rookie. Without this trade, the Heat wouldn’t have had the cap space for three max players.

Although Bledsoe has solidified himself as being capable of being a key contributor on a championship-caliber team, he did start his career reasonably slow. During his first three seasons in the league, he played in197 games while averaging 6.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.5 blocks. He shot 43.1 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from downtown, and 74.9 percent from the stripe.

While he has blossomed into a near All-Star caliber player, he wouldn’t have been worth what Bosh or James was.

Home/Heat News