With the signing of Kyle Lowry, the Miami Heat have one of the most dangerous rosters in the Eastern Conference. If everything goes their way, they could seriously make a run at the NBA Finals.
One of the most common pathways to improving for championship contenders is by making moves at the trade deadline. Unfortunately, the Miami Heat don’t have many pieces to work with.
They could potentially look to trade Tyler Herro, but the most probable scenario is that their roster remains fairly similar to how it looks now. However, other teams in the East will likely look to make moves.
What are some trades other teams could make that would diminish Miami’s Finals chances? Which teams could look to make a big-time move this year?
Blockbuster trades that would hurt the Miami Heat this season: Philadelphia 76ers land Damian Lillard
Ben Simmons has stated that he wants to play in California, but the 76ers don’t have to grant his wish. They could very easily deal him to Portland in exchange for Damian Lillard.
This trade would only work if Lillard forces his way out of Portland, which seems unlikely at the moment. Anything can happen in a matter of months, though.
If the 76ers were to pull off this move, they would instantly become one of, if not the best team in the East. Lillard and Joel Embiid are two top-ten players in the league and would be able to take over games.
The Miami Heat would see their Finals chances shrink if Lillard went to Philadelphia. This trade would change the entire landscape in the Eastern Conference.
Blockbuster trades that would hurt the Miami Heat this season: Boston Celtics trade for Bradley Beal
This is a trade that has been brought up in rumors for the past year. All signs point to Bradley Beal joining the Boston Celtics next summer, but it could happen sooner than some expect.
Boston has the assets to get a deal done as soon as this season. With Al Horford’s huge contract, it would be fairly easy for them to match Beal’s giant salary in a trade.
Beal and Celtics star Jayson Tatum are long-time friends. They both grew up in St. Louis and Beal used to drive Tatum to and from basketball practice.
They have been friends for years and it has constantly led to rumors that Beal would one day team up with Tatum. With Brad Stevens opening up some financial flexibility, a trade looks more likely than ever.
This trade could severely hurt Miami’s chances at making the NBA Finals. While the Celtics might not have the top odds after this trade, they would certainly be harder to beat.
Landing Beal would form a trio of him, Tatum, and Jaylen Brown in Boston. That big three has the potential to outscore almost anyone in the NBA.
The sheer talent Boston would have on their roster would be scary to go up against. While the Miami Heat defense would probably be fairly well-equipped to take them on, it would definitely make their path to the Finals more difficult.
Blockbuster trades that would hurt the Miami Heat this season: Three-team blockbuster sends Jerami Grant to the Atlanta Hawks
This may seem like a ridiculous trade, but it makes a ton of sense for all parties involved. The Pistons get a little younger, the Mavericks add more shooting, and the Hawks become even more dangerous.
In this case, Atlanta would be the team that Miami needs to worry about. They are coming off of a crazy Eastern Conference Finals run, and if they pulled this trade off, they would get even better.
Atlanta would be adding Jerami Grant, who is not only a defensive upgrade, but a third star to pair alongside Trae Young and John Collins. He could slot in as the three or the four.
The deal would see them part ways with Cam Reddish, but this is a win-now move. Getting Grant puts them in a solid place to compete for a title right now.
The Pistons would get to continue their rebuild while the Mavericks add another scoring option in Danilo Gallinari. This trade would not favor the Miami Heat, though.
The East is already shaping up to be chock full of tough competition. A trade such as this would only strengthen one of Miami’s competitors.
Most people may not consider the Hawks to be a top-tier team in the East, but this trade would cement them as one. Grant played at an All-Star level last season, and he would elevate the Hawks’ ceiling by a large margin.