3 bold trades for the Miami Heat ahead of the deadline

Miami Heat: Trade #3

With D’Angelo Russell apparently unhappy in Minnesota, the Wolves reportedly unlikely to re-sign Naz Reid, and reports that the Miami Heat are looking to shed Kyle Lowry’s salary and ship out Dewayne Dedmon, these two teams could make for ideal trading partners. After all, both Minnesota and Miami are looking for different things out of their starting point guards and backup centers.

Lowry’s playmaking would fit better in Minnesota and could hopefully unlock star Rudy Gobert, who hasn’t had the same offensive impact as he did in Utah without someone there to consistently set him up. Additionally, while Reid has played well in the absence of star Karl-Anthony Towns, the Timberwolves can’t afford to pay Gobert and Towns a combined $60 million a season, as well as pay Reid too.

Meanwhile, Russell has been the scapegoat for the Timberwolves’ struggles, but he could help the Heat were he to be traded there. Lowry has underperformed relative to his massive contract, and the Miami Heat are wisely looking for an affordable upgrade at the position. Russell, in the right situation, could be an upgrade over the 36-year-old Lowry.

As for Dedmon, he has also underperformed and hasn’t quite lived up to his role as a stretch-five who can protect the basket. Reid does, however, and would be a significant upgrade over Dedmon. Fortunately, Russell and Reid’s and Lowry’s and Dedmon’s salaries match up surprisingly well, making a potential deal easier.

However, there is the matter of compensation. Lowry has one more season remaining on his contract worth $29.6 million, but Dedmon has a non-guaranteed contract for next year. Compare this to Russell, who will be a free agent after this season, and Reid, who will be a restricted free agent.

The Timberwolves would almost certainly demand a first-round pick in exchange for agreeing to take on nearly $30 million in salary for the 2023-24 season. On the other hand, the Heat may not want to give one up for a player who can leave in six months and another who they’ll face strong competition to keep in restricted free agency. However, by trading for Russell, Miami would obtain his Bird rights and be able to re-sign him despite being over the cap, and they’d have the right of first refusal with Reid.

Ultimately, upgrading their starting point guard and backup center is well worth the cost of trading a first and distant second for the Heat, while Minnesota would be able to offload two players they weren’t going to re-sign for a first-round pick. Win-win.