The Miami Heat need resources but don’t have a ton of assets. Can Precious Achiuwa become one of those for them?
Back in November of 2020, the Miami Heat selected Nigerian big man Precious Achiuwa of the Memphis Tigers with the 20th pick in the first round. While in hindsight players like Tyrese Maxey and Desmond Bane who were picked after Achiuwa seem like better contributors, it is hard to judge Achiuwa on his rookie campaign. He did not have an offseason or the NBA Summer League under his belt to get some much-needed NBA experience.
Achiuwa is still a very raw talent and struggled to adjust to the fast pace of the NBA. While this means he has a lot of potential, it also means he is one of the Heat’s most valuable trade assets. With that in mind, here are a couple of routes Miami could go in terms of what to do with Precious.
1. Precious gets dealt for an upgrade
As mentioned earlier, Achiuwa has a lot of potential. He is very young and still needs to refine his skills, but he could be a player in the mold of someone like Montrezl Harrell. While he may not reach that potential, the possibility of him doing so is what makes him a key trade piece for the Miami Heat. If the Heat want to land a big name through trade, then Achiuwa will almost certainly be included in the deal.
Trades for players like Collin Sexton, Damian Lillard, and John Collins (in a sign and trade), would obviously require Tyler Herro – the Heat’s biggest asset at the moment. However, they would also require Achiuwa, who is right there in terms of value.
While I do think that the best option for both Aniuwa and the Heat would be for a trade to be made, I would only make the trade to get a player that could make a real difference in return. Trading Achiuwa to get another role player whose impact might not make a significant difference seems like a waste of his value and a waste of what he has the potential to become.
Let’s not forget the Heat’s incredible history of developing players. With an offseason and the Summer League under his belt, Achiuwa might come back better than ever and ready to make his mark.