The Miami Heat watched the world move like the rest of us did on Wednesday, what’s it mean for them though?
The Miami Heat stood by helpless, watching, as a few guys that they could have possibly landed went on their merry ways in the NBA’s latest Blockbuster Deal. In case you’ve been sleep since Wednesday afternoon, the Houston Rockets finally gave James Harden what he wanted.
In a four-team deal that landed the Brooklyn Nets James Harden, the Houston Rockets netted Victor Oladipo from Indiana, Dante Exum from Cleveland, Rodions Kurucs from Brooklyn, four unprotected first-round picks (Brooklyn’s in 2022, 2024 and 2026 and Milwaukee’s in 2022 via Cleveland), and four unprotected first-round pick swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025, and 2027.
The Indiana Pacers got from up under the unknown burden that could have been expiring free agent, Victor Oladipo. In exchange for his expiring deal in the mix, they received Caris LeVert and a 2023 second-round pick from the Rockets.
The Miami Heat missed out on potential targets on Wednesday but where to now?
For Cleveland’s part in it all, Dante Exum and a first round pick that they got from Milwaukee, they landed Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince. Cleveland has a ton of big men but Jarrett Allen may be among the best, while Prince was in need of a change of scenery, meaning this was a positive move for him.
Standing at the foot of it all as the dust settles is the Miami Heat, a team that saw two potential trade targets moved to other teams, which only comes mere weeks after Giannis Antetokounmpo, their dream free agent acquisition by all indications, re-signed with his Milwaukee Bucks. It was a tough day for anyone who thought that the Miami Heat might land a guy in the near future.
There may still be hope though! While there are other names out there, there may be a name that was involved in the deal above that could still end up in Miami when it’s all said and done.
According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer and even after being traded to “another place that he doesn’t want to be” in Houston, “League sources say Oladipo still hopes to find himself in Miami“. That may be the move to pursue if you are the Miami Heat.
You could get some help in the form of Oladipo if this is true. By all indications, it is.
Listen, the Miami Heat could stand to add a guy, as long as the price is right. I wasn’t a fan of the James Harden move, as it would have gutted the roster but I wouldn’t have gone against the grain if that’s what Heat leadership had done.
It’s not an option now though and they must pick up the pieces. This is their next best option and it’ll be interesting to see how they play it.