Miami Heat Trade Rumors
The Miami Heat have been one of the most talked about teams leading up to the NBA’s February 9th trade deadline. As a perennial playoff team looking to get over the hump and win another championship, the Heat are expected to be active in trade discussions to bolster their roster. Here is a breakdown of the latest Miami Heat trade rumors and speculation ahead of the deadline.
Kevin Durant Trade Rumors
Ever since Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets last summer, the Miami Heat Trade Rumors have been linked as one of the teams interested in acquiring the former MVP. While the Phoenix Suns remain the frontrunners if Brooklyn does decide to move Durant, Miami could put together an intriguing package centered around Tyler Herro and multiple first-round draft picks.
Acquiring Durant would immediately make the Heat a title contender and adding him to a core of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo would give Miami a very strong ‘Big 3’. The Heat have a strong organizational culture under Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra, something that could appeal to Durant at this stage of his career. While landing Durant is still a long shot for Miami, he remains their top trade deadline target.
Jae Crowder Trade Speculation
Veteran forward Jae Crowder has not played all season as he remains away from the Phoenix Suns while awaiting a trade. Miami makes a lot of sense as a landing spot for Crowder, who was a key role player on the Heat’s 2020 Finals team. Crowder would provide valuable wing depth and outside shooting for Miami.
The Heat have reportedly already rejected trade offers from the Suns involving their first-round pick. But some combination of role players like Dewayne Dedmon or Max Strus and second-rounders could be enough to facilitate a reunion with Crowder. Phoenix’s asking price for Crowder has reportedly started to lower as well. Keep an eye on the former Heat fan favorite as a prime trade candidate.
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Kyle Lowry Trade Rumors
After some early struggles adjusting to his new team last season, there was speculation that Miami could look to move on from Kyle Lowry this trade deadline. While it seems highly unlikely now given Lowry’s outstanding play in recent weeks, his name still gets brought up in NBA trade rumor mill.
If Miami did make Lowry available, he would have no shortage of interested suitors. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and New Orleans Pelicans have already been linked to Lowry in trade scuttlebutt. However, the 36-year old looks rejuvenated right now as Miami’s starting point guard. Don’t expect the Heat to show much interest in moving him unless they get blown away by an offer.
Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic Rumors
Two names that could make sense for Miami are veterans Mike Conley Jr and Bojan Bogdanovic from the Utah Jazz. Utah is in the midst of shakeup and has already traded away Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. Conley and Bogdanovic could be the next dominos to fall.
The Heat were reportedly interested in Conley before he ultimately signed with Utah. Adding the stable veteran point guard could allow Miami to use Lowry in a sixth man scorer role going forward. Meanwhile, Bogdanovic is averaging over 19 points per game and shoots over 40% from three this season. His outside shooting and secondary scoring would provide a nice boost off Miami’s bench.
While not as exciting as a Kevin Durant blockbuster trade, acquiring some combination of Conley, Bogdanovic, or Jae Crowder seems like a realistic and sensible trade deadline move for the Miami Heat to pursue right now. Expect the front office to be very active over the next two weeks heading into February 9th.
Conclusion
As the NBA trade deadline rapidly approaches, the Miami Heat Trade Rumors find themselves once again in the middle of numerous rumors and trade scenarios. Pat Riley and the Miami front office have big decisions to make on whether to pursue a blockbuster deal for a star like Kevin Durant or settle for smaller moves to add role players and depth. With a championship-caliber core already in place featuring Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, the Heat are well-positioned to capitalize on the right trade to put themselves back in the Finals. While landing Durant would accelerate the team’s title chances, even adding veterans like Jae Crowder, Mike Conley or Bojan Bogdanovic could help Miami in both the short and long-term. Expect the next two weeks to be very active for the Heat organization leading up until the final hours on February 9th. One way or another, Miami will likely make moves to bolster its roster for another deep playoff run.
