Miami Heat Acquire Their Star For The Now And The Future

The Miami Heat made the 2023 NBA Finals behind Jimmy Butler’s leadership but fell short and lost to the Denver Nuggets in five games. There is no doubt that the biggest issue for the team was their lack of consistent shot creation outside of Jimmy Butler, and it was clear that their offense suffered due to that.

If the team wants to have a legitimate chance of winning a championship, they need to acquire another star that can score at a high level. One of the players that the Heat should target is New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram: he is a do-it-all forward offensively, and in theory, he should be able to be acquired more easily due to him only having two more years on his deal. Here is a potential trade framework that sends Brandon Ingram to the Miami Heat. Miami Heat Grabs Their Star for the Present and the Future

This trade could potentially have benefits for both teams involved, and there are good reasons for each team to follow through with this move. Here is why the Heat and the Pelicans should discuss a trade centered around Brandon Ingram.

Miami Heat Acquire Their Star For The Now And The Future

Brandon Ingram would seemingly be the perfect player to take the Miami Heat to the next level. He is a borderline complete offensive wing: this season, Ingram averaged 24.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 5.8 APG for the New Orleans Pelicans, while shooting 48.4% from the field and 39.0% from 3PT range. He is a legitimate three-level scorer, with the midrange area being a particular strength of his. In theory, Ingram would thrive on the Miami Heat as the No. 1 or No. 2 scoring option, and he could definitely give them another tough bucket-getter when it comes to the closing moments of the game. Having another go-to offensive option is crucial for the Miami Heat to improve as a team, and this trade would give them just that.

To get Brandon Ingram, the Miami Heat would likely have to move young guard Tyler Herro as the centerpiece of the package. The goal would likely be to keep Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, and thus Tyler Herro would be the odd man out. The Heat would have to include Caleb Martin in this deal as well, and one first-round pick as the draft compensation required.

This deal would help the Miami Heat win immediately, as Brandon Ingram would immediately increase their talent level. However, they would also get some flexibility for the future as Jimmy Butler ages. They can build around Brandon Ingram and Bam Adebayo going forward, which is a solid duo to have long-term. Overall, this trade is a no-brainer deal for the Miami Heat on many levels, and it’ll be interesting to see if they target Ingram in the future.