Will the Miami Heat regret not completing Danilo Gallinari trade?

Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder on the court between plays against the Orlando Magic in the first quarter at Amway Center. (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images)
Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder on the court between plays against the Orlando Magic in the first quarter at Amway Center. (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images) /
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The Miami Heat’s trade for Danilo Gallinari fell through at the trade deadline. Will they eventually regret not pulling the trigger?

The Miami Heat ended up trading for Andre Iguodala at the trade deadline, not Danilo Gallinari.

Zach Buckley, in his latest for Bleacher Report, suggests they may regret that deal down the line:

"“If the Heat use that space to snag a whale (like Giannis Antetokounmpo), they’ll forget ever having this regret. But if they don’t land a difference-maker, they’ll wonder why they didn’t push in their chips when they had a chance.”"

The issue with the Gallinari trade, which was fumbled on the one-yard line, was the Heat’s insistence on maintaining 2021 cap space, as Buckley notes above. Pat Riley and the Miami front office have their eyes on “big fish” free agents like Antetokounmpo and guard Victor Oladipo.

Gallinari was all about joining up with Jimmy Butler and the Heat, on one condition: he receives an extension offer upon arrival securing a future with the team and monetarily. Miami wouldn’t play, so the deal fell through, and the veteran forward remains with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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It’s true, Gallinari would be a game-changer for the Heat. He’s averaging 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on a 43/40/88 shooting split. The 11-year veteran has been a large contributor on a Thunder team that’s far exceeded their original expectations.

Playing a five-man lineup of Kendrick Nunn, Butler, Duncan Robinson, Gallinari, and Bam Adebayo would be an offensive juggernaut with the defensive aptitude to match. But at the end of the day, however, preserving cap space has to be the priority for the Heat.

If Antetokounmpo’s free agency were to come around and he was to have a legitimate interest in joining up with Butler and Adebayo in South Beach, Riley and the club would never forgive themselves. He’s the 2018-2019 MVP, and when that’s in play, you always roll the dice.

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Pat Riley is known for one thing: almost always getting his guy. Acquiring Danilo Gallinari at the trade deadline may have bettered their chances at this year’s title, but would have left them with nowhere near the cap space needed to be major players in the 2021 free agency market.