The Miami Heat are, sort of, up against the deadline. With just days left until the NBA’s Trade Deadline passes, if they are going to make a move, it needs to happen soon.
With the reporting and rumor mill as active as ever, some might think that they are on the brink of making said move, at any minute now. According to one report in particular, that of Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Miami Heat are relatively far down the road in discussions about a potential acquisition.
The player in question that would be coming back to Miami would be Kyle Lowry. Here are a few more details about all that is known of the talks.
"The Raptors would require at least Tyler Herro or Duncan Robinson from Miami in any potential deal, sources added. And since Lowry makes $30 million, the Heat would need to give about $24 million in total salary. Goran Dragic, who makes $18 million and has a team option for next season, would likely need to be included (or Kelly Olynyk, who makes $12.6 million). If draft pick compensation is required, the Heat can trade only first-round picks in 2025 and 2027 if the protections on the 2023 pick owed to the Thunder are lifted in a separate deal.Robinson is a reasonable centerpiece of a trade package, especially considering he’ll be a restricted free agent this offseason. The last knockdown shooter who hit the market—Brooklyn’s Joe Harris—landed a four-year, $72 million contract. But Herro, who’s in only the second season of his four-year rookie deal, would be a steep price to pay for Lowry, who the Heat could just pursue this offseason when he becomes an unrestricted free agent."
So, the question then becomes this. Do you make such a move if you are the Miami Heat and Pat Riley, knowing that you’ll have to give up all that you might potentially have to do so to get the deal done?
The Miami Heat are in a position to make a move, but should they overpay to get a deal done?
That is a good question. When it comes to Tyler Herro, he would not be moved.
Though struggling a bit recently, he’s still a young guy with a lot of potential and a favorable contract situation. You don’t move that for a guy that has to be re-upped in a few months.
On Duncan Robinson, it would be easier to digest, but you also don’t move him for a guy that becomes free in a few months, especially when those in the know think that he’ll end up in Miami anyway.
All I can say is this: It's absolutely true that if Kyle Lowry leaves Toronto, his pick of landing spots would be Miami.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) March 23, 2021
And I do think he'll be with the Heat next season.
I'm just not sure yet about whether he will be later this week.
While Robinson could command a huge number in his upcoming free agency, guys who you compared him to for contract purposes aren’t lighting it up at the moment. Joe Harrison’s performance and value to the Brooklyn Nets hasn’t been the same with their new look. ,
When you combine that fact with things such as the notion that Washington may want to trade their high priced shooter already, the one that they literally just re-signed, in Davis Bertans, that may result in that number not being as big as most might think.
Also, when you think about the salary-matching aspect of things, that means the Heat would have to include another player or two in the deal to match Lowry’s salary in a trade. That isn’t worth it for only three months of guaranteed Kyle Lowry.
He is a good player and could help this Heat team, but not at that cost. You don’t shoot yourself in the toe to get better and that’s what a deal, as described above, would mean for Miami .