Whenever a rumor rears its head this offseason, the Miami Heat always manage to get involved. Well, the latest buzz is no different.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic (subscription required), the Miami Heat are one of the top suitors in a potential Ben Simmons trade. The other two teams mentioned were the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards.
Amick was writing about the Bucks’ Finals run and LeBron James’ next move in LA when he dropped the bomb. He stated that it is very likely Simmons gets moved this offseason.
Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal rumors have dominated headlines, but Simmons is the only superstar who is likely going to be dealt this offseason. Washington is only a suitor in a potential Beal for Simmons swap.
What would the trade look like, and why should the Miami Heat target Ben Simmons in a trade?
He shared that a source told him about these three teams and that they are the most probable destinations for Simmons. Miami Heat fans would likely be back and forth on the idea.
Simmons is undoubtedly an All-Star caliber player. However, his playstyle doesn’t necessarily fit alongside what the Heat are trying to build right now.
In addition, the 76ers have a very high asking price for Simmons. Multiple sources have stated that they are hoping to get an All-Star caliber player in return.
In the case of the Miami Heat, this would mean either Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo. However, knowing Pat Riley, he would likely offer nothing more than Tyler Herro and other assets.
Butler and Adebayo are the two building blocks of the Miami Heat and nothing will change that. With that being said, how would Simmons fit alongside them?
How would Ben Simmons fit with the Miami Heat?
If Ben Simmons were to form a big three with Butler and Adebayo in Miami, they would be by far the best defensive team in the NBA. Butler and Simmons are two of, if not the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, and the same can be said about Adebayo in the post.
On top of that, Simmons and Adebayo are the two most switchable defenders in the league. Both of them can guard positions one through five.
Miami was already one of the best defenses last year, so adding a top-three defender in the NBA would certainly help that. Defensively, this trade would make them a better basketball team.
However, most of the questions come on the offensive end of the floor. This would not help the Miami Heat improve in the areas they most need to improve in.
Last season, the Heat were one of the worst offenses in the NBA. They were bottom ten in scoring and in the bottom half of the league in three-point percentage.
Duncan Robinson even boosted this number. If Robinson wasn’t on the team, they would have been a bottom three team in three-point percentage last season.
Simmons makes this situation infinitely worse. He’s an amazing passer, but when it comes to scoring the ball, he’s not great.
Everyone watched him struggle in the playoffs last year. At times it looked as though he was scared to shoot the ball.
He doesn’t even try to take threes. Adding a player like that to Miami’s already stagnant offense would create a ton of roadblocks.
To summarize, the Miami Heat would be a dominant force defensively, but their struggles on the offensive end would be amplified even more.
What would the Miami Heat trade package for Ben Simmons look like?
The trade listed above is the best possible package the Miami Heat can give the 76ers without trading Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo. Honestly, this trade is not a great one for either side.
Giving up on Tyler Herro for a less talented offensive player is tough. At the same time, the 76ers don’t get the All-Star they want in return for Simmons.
The Miami Heat could ask for George Hill to salvage some offense out of the deal, but that’s about it. If Hill is the offensive savior the Heat are begging for, maybe it’s time to look for a different trade.
Their offensive scoring numbers would plummet if they made this trade. Herro and Dragic were two of their top scorers for the past two seasons.
Meanwhile, Simmons has been reluctant to diversify his offensive game. He doesn’t even seem to attack the basket like he used to.
There are certainly some concerns when it comes to Herro, however, there are even more when it comes to Simmons. At least Herro has the potential to become a great offensive player.
The Heat don’t need more defense. It’s always welcomed, but at this point in time, they have to prioritize improving their offense.
If that is the goal, which it should be, this is the last trade they should be considering. If anything, this deal makes them significantly worse on the offensive end.