Grading the Trade
This trade seems underwhelming for the Lakers. If this is all they can get back, it probably makes more sense to just hold onto LeBron and see if they can’t make a second-half push or hope he sticks around.
But what about from the Heat’s perspective?
Adding LeBron to a group of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo would be the closest thing to Miami’s Big Three since, well, Miami’s Big Three. They’d have LeBron, 10 years older but still one of the best 10 to 15 players in the league, Butler playing the role of Dwyane Wade and Adebayo playing the role of Chris Bosh. Erik Spoelstra would have a field day coming up with ways to improve on his blueprint from a decade ago.
If the Heat managed to make this trade – while keeping most of their depth at wing, a relief scorer in Tyler Herro and their most promising young player – there is little doubt that they would be considered favorites in the East. (Or, at the very least, right there with the Boston Celtics.)
As unlikely as it is, it’s fun for Heat fans to dream.