the Miami Heat have gotten off to a moderately slow start this season. And now, after missing out on Damian Lillard, James Harden, and Jrue Holiday this past summer, they are back in the market for some star reinforcements. According to league insider Chris Mannix, the Heat are expected to aggressively pursue a trade before February’s deadline. Among the list of potential targets? Raptors forwards OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam.
“I would expect [the Miami Heat] to be aggressive,” wrote Mannix. “Maybe that means a Pascal Siakam. Maybe that means an OG Anunoby. That’s someone I don’t think they’d hesitate to pull the trigger on because you could re-sign those guys if you’re Miami.
Just a few months ago, the Miami Heat were at the top of the basketball world after pulling off an upset to advance to the NBA Finals. But after losing several key role-players, and failing to replace them with any proven veterans, it’s fair to say that Miami took a step back in terms of overall talent and potential. But with enough assets to make a move, it’s not too late for them to shock the world with a huge blockbuster trade.
Ranked 14th in offense and defense this season, the Heat have been painfully average even with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo being mostly healthy through the first few weeks. Outside of those two guys, and the impressive performance of rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., nobody has stepped up for the Heat as as a consistent and reliable scoring option.