Miami Heat: Trio of summer trade window options who could curb future droughts
As the Miami Heat season progresses, scoring droughts are proving that a true No. 2 is needed. Here are a few thoughts on the topic.
The Miami Heat have been a very mercurial team in the 2019-20 season. Based primarily on their ability to get a bucket when they need to, they have seen themselves hit quite the lulls at times. Let’s look a bit deeper into the phenomenon.
Ben Simmons thrived without Joel Embiid. Embiid thrived without Simmons.
Put them together and they have been pretty rocky. Take them apart and they seem to flourish.
The simplest way to describe that is a disappointing Philadelphia 76ers season, however, the upside of the equation could be looked at as a luxury that teams like the Miami Heat do not currently have.
On paper, the Heat have two all-stars and a gang of complementary players. In reality, the team has one star and a few players with the possibility of developing. But as of now, there is no second player on par with Jimmy Butler who can pick up the slack when he is out of the lineup or the offense is slumping as it did with him on the bench against the Orlando Magic.
This is a fact that does not simply change after four straight victories or a blowout loss. A certainty not lost on Miami as they try to save their money for the summer of 2021.
Some would argue that Bam Adebayo is that man alongside Butler. Averaging 16.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game and an All-Star selection would appear to validate that, except for the fact Adebayo is still growing into his game and does not sustain enough aggression to singlehandedly take over games.
Ultimately, this is Miami’s biggest problem after trying to address their defensive woes with the additions of Jae Crowder and Andre Iguodala.
The offense goes stale in stretches because the Heat lack another scorer who can get his own buckets by breaking defenses down off the dribble. A consistent threat, in that vein, has yet to grace this Miami roster–even when Tyler Herro is healthy.
Waiting for 2021 could yield the same stagnant results in the crunch. Unless Pat Riley turns his gift of plucking other team’s disgruntled stars into another Erik Spoelstra asset.