The Miami Heat finally snapped their seven-game losing streak with a win on Wednesday night and will try to keep the good times rolling Friday in Washington, but this is still far from a perfect team.
With the Feb. 8 trade deadline only a few days away, the Heat still have time to make a deal that improves their chances in the Eastern Conference. This will take some big thinking. Here are six dream targets the Heat should consider and what they would cost.
6. Bruce Brown
After acquiring Bruce Brown as needed salary in the Pascal Siakam deal, the Raptors are expected to flip Brown for more draft capital before the deadline. Brown, a University of Miami alum, is a perfect fit for the Heat.
A defensive-minded, do-the-little-things Swiss Army knife with championship pedigree, Brown would be an instant fit in lineups alongside Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and the remaining backcourt.
Which brings us to what it would cost. Brown would be useful on almost any playoff contender, which means the Raptors will be able to take bids for the best return. The Heat can only trade one future first-round pick right now after dealing one in the Terry Rozier deal, but they also might be able to offer the best young player if they put Tyler Herro on the table.
Trading Herro would mark a dramatic shift in this front office’s thinking and, for the record, we are not advocating for that kind of deal here, but when we’re talking about dream targets the cost can be high.
Would the Raptors trade Brown to Miami for Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jovic and a first? Is that more palatable?