Jason Burgos
A new rumor pushes the Miami Heat toward a trade this summer for the star they need, but it’s not Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Change is sure to come to the Heat’s roster this offseason. While they were linked to several trades before February’s deadline, the front office ended up going with a conservative approach and did not make any meaningful additions to the roster. It cost them.
They barely made this year’s NBA Play-In. In their first game of the tournament, they were matched up with a red-hot Charlotte Hornets team and had them dead to rights late in the fourth quarter. But they blew their lead and ended up falling in overtime. The loss means Miami won’t have playoff basketball for the first time since 2019. That just won’t do in South Beach.
Many will expect the Heat to go hard to make a trade for unhappy Milwaukee Bucks legend Antetokounmpo this summer. However, that will be a costly deal, and there is a serious risk in mortgaging the future for a 31-year-old whose body seems to be breaking down after 13 seasons and many playoff trips in the NBA. However, there may soon be a better option.
Ja Morant’s time in Memphis is unofficially over
On Thursday, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright reported that Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has allegedly “told players around the league and some of his former coaches that he isn’t playing for Memphis anymore.” A key factor is the hard feelings he has towards the organization and some of his teammates after he feels they alienated him when he was suspended by the NBA three seasons ago.
There is certainly risk in acquiring Morant. He has had even more injury woes than Antetokounmpo over the last few seasons, and there are questions about character. However, he is 26 years old, and reports last year claimed some inside the Heat organization believed they could get him back to All-Star form with the help of their culture.
Furthermore, with his trade value at a low, he would come at a far more reasonable rate. And with contracts coming off the books, Miami may not be forced to make the money side work by giving up key players. If they can keep Tyler Herro out of a trade, a trio of him, Morant, and Bam Adebayo could be a big problem in the East next season.
Miami is an organization that thinks long-term. Antetokounmpo will be seeking an even bigger contract in the next couple of years while in a career decline. While Morant needs to be fixed, he has the potential to be a massive star and core member of their team for the next decade. He just feels like a better fit for them.
