These are some needs that the team can meet in addition to the largest one.
Written by Zachary Weinberger
January 24, 2024, 1:13 AM GMT+13 minutes of reading
The Miami Heat made a significant acquisition when they acquired Terry Rozier, the star player for the Charlotte Hornets, despite their reputation for being hesitant to part with players and split their squad. Rozier’s name had been associated with the Heat for a while, so they acquired him in exchange for a 2027 first-round selection and point guard Kyle Lowry.
As previously reported by ClutchPoints, it was evident even prior to the season that Lowry was the player most likely to be traded to the Heat. Although Lowry has the potential to be a “true” point guard, Miami needed a guard who can score well in order to give the offense more momentum.
Even the fans were demanding to see two names on a Heat uniform, so that was the team’s most pressing need. Dejounte Murray of the Atlanta Hawks and Rozier are those two. In any case, Scary Terry was brought to South Beach. He is averaging career-highs with 23.2 points and 6.6 assists while shooting 45.9 percent from the field so far this season with the Hornets.
Given that Miami has a significant need met, should they make one more acquisition before the deadline, or should they continue making trades? The team also needs to fill the following two needs:
After acquiring Rozier, the Heat will need to be cheap in any trades they make. Finding a different defensive big man to play alongside Bam Adebayo and even Kevin Love wouldn’t hurt, though.
Dorian Finney-Smith of the Brooklyn Nets and rJerami Gant, a star player for the Portland Trail Blazers, are two players that come to mind. The latter is less likely because of his $27.5 million contract; Miami currently has four players making over $20 million a year; another could put them in trouble.
Again, they could try to relieve some cash by trading other assets like Duncan Robinson and Caleb Martin, but it might not work. But Finney-Smith, the other contender, is a true fit for this Heat team as a
If he and Adebayo were paired together, that would make for a formidable frontcourt that no NBA team would want to play against. With two years left on his contract and a $13.4 million salary, Miami might be able to work something out. Yossi Gozlan, though, predicts that the Heat will be heavily in debt for the foreseeable future.
Looking for a backup point guard, is Heat?
Another need now that Lowry is gone and Rozier has been traded is a backup point guard who can step in and support the second unit. The guards who are reportedly available, though, might be very expensive for the team and are not suitable as bench players. The Heat will probably search the buyout market.
With Rozier’s trade, Miami’s shooting slump is expected to worsen as the team adjusts to life after injuries, and additional shooting support in the backcourt wouldn’t hurt. Alec Burks, the guard for the Detroit Pistons, is a name that fits the bill and might be headed out.
The 32-year-old guard has been lighting it up for the Pistons on occasions, as seen by his 33-point performance and six assists off the bench against the Milwaukee Bucks last Saturday. He might be a useful addition for the Heat, who will seek to improve their offense wherever possible and find methods to cut costs.
Concerning the Writer
In October 2023, Zachary Weinberger became an Associate Editor and Miami Heat reporter for ClutchPoints. After covering the athletic programs at Florida Atlantic University since his freshman year as a sports editor and editor-in-chief of the FAU University Press, he graduated in 2022.
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