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Miami Heat: 3 crucial areas to address at the trade deadline

By Sam DiGiovanni

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 23: Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic drives to the net against Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat at Amway Center on December 23, 2020 in Orlando, 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. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 23: Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic drives to the net against Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat at Amway Center on December 23, 2020 in Orlando, 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. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /
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Miami Heat, NBA trade deadline
Miami Heat, NBA trade deadline Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

As the NBA trade deadline looms, the Miami Heat are rolling. Just when they seemed dead in the water, the Heat hopped out with new life, winning 11 of their last 12 games even as key players miss time with injury. Now at fourth place in the Eastern Conference, they’re looking much more like last year’s squad.

Still, there’s plenty of room to improve. This Miami team could use some tweaks to patch the holes it has. Going for a third star would make their flaws more forgivable, but swinging for the fences will mostly likely just draw a strike. It’s an avenue worth exploring but it’s certainly the tougher way to bolster the team. Miami shouldn’t ignore the opportunities to hit a single or a double.

There are several areas the Miami Heat can improve upon  at the NBA trade deadline as they storm back into the playoff picture

Finding a power forward

Miami hasn’t been able to find someone to reliably play the four spot. Kelly Olynyk has been fine but elevated him from the bench leaves the backup big rotation to just Precious Achuiwa and…you get the idea. Moe Harkless has been a total dud and KZ Okpala is tantalizing but still very raw. Jae Crowder leaving in 2020 free agency has left a void that Miami has yet to fill.

Oklahoma City’s Kenrich Williams would fill that void pretty well. The 6-6 forward is like the stage crew in a play: rarely attention-grabbing but still instrumental in making everything run smoothly.

Williams is shooting a career-high 40.7 from deep, including 56 percent on corner triples, according to Cleaning the Glass. He has the size and tenacity to be a switchable defender while also being an aware and aggressive off-ball defender. This steal that leads to a fast break opportunity is one of the many ways he can disrupt an offense.

Taurean Prince of the Cleveland Cavaliers fits this mold as well. Though not as well-rounded as Williams, the 6’7″ forward is converting 40.6 percent of 3.8 3-point attempts per game as a Cavalier and has the build to guard multiple positions. Cleveland has been trading away veterans throughout their rebuilding efforts and the 26-year-old Prince seems like a prime candidate to be shipped out.

The Cavs also have another intriguing forward: 28-year-old Larry Nance Jr. The high flyer averages 9.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists and shoots 37.1 percent from deep. Defensively, Nance has improved tremendously. Using his hyperactive hands and tremendous athleticism, he helped propel the Cavs to one of the best defensive ratings early in the season, a mark that dropped right when Nance got injured.

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