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Miami Heat: Ranking The Top 5 Acquisitions In Franchise History

By James D. Tillman III

Dallas, UNITED STATES: Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley (C) holds the Larry O'Brian trophy with Dwyane Wade (L) and Shaquille O'Neal (R) after winning the NBA finals against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas 20 June 2006. The Heat won 95-92 to take the best-of-seven series 4-2. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images)
Dallas, UNITED STATES: Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley (C) holds the Larry O'Brian trophy with Dwyane Wade (L) and Shaquille O'Neal (R) after winning the NBA finals against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas 20 June 2006. The Heat won 95-92 to take the best-of-seven series 4-2. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, UNITED STATES: Head coach of the Miami Heat Pat Riley(L) sits with newly acquired center Alonzo Mourning in a press conference held at the Miami Arena 03 November. Mourning was traded to the Heat from the Charlotte Hornets in a six-player trade that will reportedly net him 44 million USD over a four-year extension. AFP PHOTO by Rhonma Wise (Photo credit should read RHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images)
MIAMI, UNITED STATES: Head coach of the Miami Heat Pat Riley(L) sits with newly acquired center Alonzo Mourning in a press conference held at the Miami Arena 03 November. Mourning was traded to the Heat from the Charlotte Hornets in a six-player trade that will reportedly net him 44 million USD over a four-year extension. AFP PHOTO by Rhonma Wise (Photo credit should read RHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images) /

3. Alonzo Mourning

Timing was everything in this scenario. Mourning was unhappy during his contract talks with the Charlotte Hornets, while Riley was looking to acquire a player that would make the Heat relevant.

After it became obvious that Mourning and the Hornets weren’t going to reach an agreement on a deal, two teams executed a six-player trade in November of 1995.

Charlotte sent Mourning, reserve center LeRon Ellis and backup guard Pete Myers to Miami. In exchange, the Hornets got long-range shooter Glen Rice, center Matt Geiger and point guard Khalid Reeves, as well as the Heat’s No. 1 pick in next year’s draft.

Mourning didn’t disappoint, as his averages hovered right around 20 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest during his first full five years with the Heat.

Unfortunately, a kidney disease and eventual transplant would prevent “Zo” from continuously putting up big numbers and leading Miami to a title.

In spite of that fact, Mourning’s overall numbers (16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per contest) are still impressive and let’s not forget about these accolades as well:

  • Led the league in blocks twice (1999-2000).
  • Two-time Defensive Player of the Year (1999-2000).
  • Two-time All-Defensive First Team (1999-2000).
  • All-NBA First Team selection (1999).

Simply put, Mourning was a force in the middle for the Heat when he was healthy, and he definitely deserves consideration as one of the top acquisitions in the history of this franchise.

Next: No. 2

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