Miami Heat: A trade proposition for the Portland Trail Blazers

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 10: Tyler Johnson #8 and Kelly Olynyk #9 of the Miami Heat high five during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 10, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 10: Tyler Johnson #8 and Kelly Olynyk #9 of the Miami Heat high five during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 10, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
1 of 4
Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images
Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images

The Miami Heat are good enough to contend for the playoffs, but not a championship. Trading for a high-quality scorer can boost their their title chances.

The Miami Heat are in a difficult situation. While they have a good chance of making the playoffs, they are not poised to greatly improve on the 6-seed they earned last year. Their roster is the exact same as last season’s team that lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in five games in the first round.

The only youthful player they can depend on for serious improvement is Bam Adebayo. The other prominent young players on the team (which includes names like Justise Winslow, Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson, Kelly Olynyk and Dion Waiters) seem to have plateaued.

This leaves the Heat barely outside of the NBA’s no-man’s land, which describes teams not good enough to make the playoffs and not bad enough to earn a high draft pick. The Heat don’t seem to be a team that will miss the postseason (although it is possible), which is why they’re technically not in no-man’s land. Still, they are unlikely to become a contender with the team they have now. The type of player that can benefit the Heat the most is a dangerous scorer.

They can change that by making a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers.