2. Miami Heat
The Trade:
This trade doesn’t work unless the Heat lose out on Dragic and have to settle for a consolation prize.
Back when I first named the top potential trade targets for the Phoenix Suns, Luol Deng was one of them. In the deal I proposed, the Heat would fix their point guard problems by taking on Isaiah Thomas and add a proven bench scorer in Gerald Green in exchange for Deng and Norris Cole, a player Miami has no need for.
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton mostly agrees, noting that a Thomas and Green swap for Deng would be mutually beneficial. Miami has a trio of virtually useless point guards between Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole and Shabazz Napier and is trying to stay alive in the playoff race. Trading for Thomas accomplishes that goal.
@wallstplayer Houston is my suspicion. Rockets have assets that Heat don't. Isaiah Thomas, b/c of contract, is guy Heat should pursue.
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) February 18, 2015
The Suns would be upgrading from Tucker on the wing to Deng, someone who is a proven defender and can also knock down threes. He’s vastly superior to Tucker as a scorer as well.
Unlike the identical Dragic-Miami Heat trade I proposed yesterday, Pat Riley probably wouldn’t be inclined to include a future first round pick if Thomas were in the Dragon’s place. Still, the Suns would bolster the wing and they’d get an experienced veteran who could help guide the Suns to the postseason, thereby improving Phoenix’s odds at keeping Dragic.
The only problem is the Heat know that Dragic has them on his list, so it might be difficult to convince them that a consolation prize like Isaiah Thomas is worth investing in.
Next: A Bullish Endeavor