Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Heat were one of several teams reportedly looking to upgrade prior to this season's trade deadline. But with nothing of substance on hand, the Heat decided to stand pat.
The 2017 NBA Trade Deadline has now passed and the Miami Heat have decided against testing the waters.
Like several teams, the Heat were rumoured to have had an interest in making some moves prior to the Feb. 23 deadline. Even as late as deadline day, news was trickling through of potential Heat moves:
Miami has shopped a Wayne Ellington/Josh McRoberts package, sources told @TheVertical. Heat appear interested in moving contracts.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) February 23, 2017
Wayne Ellington, for one, was a little taken aback with the trade rumour:
"It caught me off guard. I didn't expect anything, but at the same time you're talking about somebody who has been through a lot of scenarios in this league already. I'm a person who has earned everything I've got. I come in every day ready to grind and ready to work. I understand it's part of the business, part of what we signed on for. I'm happy I'm still here, obviously."
This move was, of course, not followed through. Furthermore, there was no indication as to what the Heat would have possibly received in return. At 27-32, the Heat have responded tremendously since compiling an 11-30 record over the first half of the season.
Now just 1.5 games out of the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference standings, the current members of this roster has 23 games to prove that they're viable pieces for the Heat to retain moving forward.
Of course, initially it's hard to determine whether deciding to stand pat was the correct decision.
Therefore, analyzing the pros and cons of the Heat coming to this decision is a worthwhile exercise.
Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Standing Pat
Although Heat team president Pat Riley has a rich history of midseason trades, there were several factors working against Riley pulling one out of the hat. And hence he stood pat (pardon the pun).
Firstly, Riley signed a number of players this past offseason to one-year contracts. Dion Waiters, James Johnson, Wayne Ellington and Willie Reed are all due for new contracts this coming summer. With their deals expiring, their trading value for Riley was hence diminished. And as Riley stated in his press conference shortly after the deadline:
"If we get those players that we think can be part of a future to perform at a high level and make the playoffs, that's what we're looking for and that's why we didn't make trades for the sake of making trades…I'm glad we didn't do anything stupid."
Therefore, Riley is essentially saying that he would like to give the current group at his disposal the opportunity to finish the season and potentially push into the playoffs.
Furthermore, the Heat's recent 13-game streak winning streak is still fresh in their minds. Capitalizing on the chemistry built during this time after a terrible 11-30 start to the season is an added bonus of not breaking up the current core. As Riley also noted:
"This was not smoke and mirrors over the last five weeks. This was some very good basketball, some very good performances."
This form has now extended past the All-Star break. The Heat hit the ground running with a 108-90 road victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Despite just two points from center Hassan Whiteside, six Heat players scored in double figures. It's been the well-rounded, team concept that has seen the team flourish over recent weeks.
They backed this up the following night with a 113-95 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Marking their 16th consecutive game of scoring 100 or more points, the Heat won for the 15th time in their last 17 appearances.
Furthermore, the inability to trade their first-round draft this year due to the Stepien Rule decreased the value of any trades they could offer other teams. Point guard Goran Dragic was widely seen as the most likely key player to be moved. Despite his career season, Whiteside is still not what you'd regard as a Riley "Miami Heat player."
But according to Dan Le Batard on ESPN's The Dan Le Batard Show, the only players teams enquired about were Dion Waiters and James Johnson. However, the offers received were not going to move the needle one way or the other. Furthermore, head coach Erik Spoelstra felt that keeping the team intact would be great from a morale standpoint. Spoelstra noted:
"Guys are very excited about the opportunity of being together and having an opportunity to play for the playoffs. From a human standpoint, it was great to see everybody get on the plane last night. We've been through a lot and everybody in this gym wanted this group to continue to go forward."
Next: Case Against Standing Pat
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Case Against Standing Pat
As mentioned earlier, Dion Waiters and James Johnson were reportedly the players which interested rival teams the most on the Heat roster. Both Waiters and Johnson are in their first years with the Heat and, as touched upon earlier, have their contracts expire at the conclusion of this season.
Granted, it can be argued that the Heat were wise to play it safe and not do anything they considered unnecessary. However in this case, there's also an added risk in following this path of safety. If Waiters and Johnson continue their current form, huge offers this offseason are very likely to come their way. Salaries of $12 million plus per season are not out of the realm of possibility.
With Chris Bosh's remaining contract post this season coming off the books this summer, there is going to be substantial room under the Heat's salary cap this summer. Furthermore, there are a vast array of high-quality free agents becoming available. So who the Heat target, and how much they're prepared to pay, is going to be a large determinant in whether or not the likes of Waiters and James Johnson stay.
It's well publicized that the Heat franchise is all about winning. They don't care for rebuilding. So for someone with Riley's reputation not to even make a small move to boost their current roster was a little surprising.
Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The Final Stretch
With 23 games left in their regular season, the Miami Heat have their playoff aspirations in their own hands. Aside from second-year forward Justise Winslow, the Heat currently have a full complement of health following second-year guard/forward Josh Richardson's return from injury.
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Down this final stretch of the season, 13 of their 23 games are against teams with a below .500 record. Furthermore, 13 of their final 23 games will be at home at the American Airlines Arena. And aside from a pit stop to play the Dallas Mavericks this coming Monday, there are no more upcoming Western Conference road trips, which means in essence, the Heat have positioned themselves excellently for this march towards the postseason.
Another added edge the Heat have on their side is the mindset of their current players. Riley and his staff have assembled a collection of players who have bounced around the league and have a clear hunger to succeed in Miami. Dion Waiters is already on his third team in just his fifth season in the league. James Johnson is on his fifth team in this his eighth season. And Wayne Ellington is on his seventh team in just eight seasons.
Waiters in particular has stood out significantly during the Heat's recent streak. Over his last 15 games, Waiters is averaging 20.6 points, 5.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. Most impressively, he has shot 48.4 percent from the field and 46.4 percent from behind three. As Riley noted just recently:
"If he can put together another 25 games similar to what he has done the last 10 or 12, that's a pretty good sample size of what a guy can do,
He's a playmaker. He's a big-time playmaker."
And it's not only these players mentioned who have a point to prove. The Heat's leading scorers, Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside, also have a chip on their shoulders. Although the Heat struggled mightily earlier this season, both have put together exceptional seasons. However, both have yet to participate in an All-Star game in their careers. Dragic in particular has been brilliant during the team's surge up the standings.
Dragic has posted 22.7 points and 5.5 assists on an outstanding 54.1 percent shooting from the field over the last 17 games. It's fair to say he has been performing at an All-Star level, with his season numbers now at 20.3 points and 6.3 assists per game. Whiteside, meanwhile, is still determined to prove that the heavy investment the Heat made in him this past summer is worth the risk.
So with players with something to prove on various levels, a growing confidence level amongst the playing group and a proven winning culture, the Heat have a number of factors working for them in their march toward the playoffs.
We will soon become aware whether the Heat's decision to stand pat at the trade deadline was a wise move.
