Miami Heat: Best trade ever done with the Atlanta Hawks

By Jack Simone | Oct 3, 2021

MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 14: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks talks with Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat after the preseason game at American Airlines Arena on October 14, 2019 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

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Light is reflected off the Larry O’Brian trophy as Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley and the Heat celebrate winning Game Six of the NBA Finals (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) /

Best trade the Miami Heat made with the Sacramento Kings: Kevin Willis & Walter McCarty

This may seem a bit weird considering that on the last slide it was stated that the Miami Heat lost this trade. That may technically be true, but this trade becomes a complete win for the Heat when you take a closer look.

Both Steve Smith and Grant Long went on to have very successful careers with the Atlanta Hawks. And while Kevin Willis did play well with the Miami Heat, he is not the reason they won this trade.

The key to this deal was not Willis, but actually the 1996 first-round pick the Heat got. While it did eventually turn into Walter McCarty, the Heat never made that pick.

Instead, they traded it to the New York Knicks less than one year later. What did they get in return? Coach Pat Riley – a Miami Heat legend.

So, while it may be cheating a bit to say that the Heat won this trade when, in fact, the Hawks got a great return, that’s what hindsight is all about. It’s about looking into the past and seeing how every little detail panned out.

Next. Lessons to learn from the past 5 NBA Champions. dark

The Hawks got what they wanted, but the Heat flipped the pick they received into something very valuable. This is easily the best deal the Miami Heat did with the Hawks.

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