Earlier this offseason, in a move that would’ve angered fans, it was reported that the Miami Heat were interested in trading for DeMar DeRozan. While those original rumors certainly quieted down, they could be ready to ramp up again. And, at this point, such a move would make even less sense for the Heat.
In the words of Allen Stiles of a Sacramento radio station, he believes that there could be a handshake agreement between the Kings and DeRozan. If the Kings are able to land a deal for Jonathan Kuminga, who they’re reportedly pursuing, he believes they will then work hard to hammer down a trade of DeRozan.
One hypothetical that he threw out revolved around the Heat sending Terry Rozier and two second-round picks to the Kings for DeRozan. Stiles references the smoke surrounding a DeRozan to the Heat move earlier this offseason and the fact that Miami could still be looking to make upgrades to the roster.
The Heat shouldn’t burn assets in a gap year
Theoretically speaking, the Heat could add DeRozan without hurting their future financial flexibility. However, it will cost the team in other ways.
Whether DeRozan is the right schematic fit, especially with the idea that the Heat would want to embrace a youth movement of sorts, remains to be seen. But it probably wouldn’t be the most shocking of moves.
Still, I’m not sure this is a move the Heat should pursue. Instead of trying to make a short-sighted move to try and save face with the fan base, which would hardly work in this case, the Heat should embrace their mediocrity in this “gap” year.
It’s too late now for half-measure moves, and burning two second-round picks for one season of a player past his prime that probably won’t raise the ceiling all that much for the Heat is not the type of move they should be pursuing.
It is quite odd that the noise surrounding a potential pursuit of DeRozan just stopped, especially considering how loud it was earlier during the offseason. You can’t help if both sides tabled the idea or talks of such a deal on purpose, knowing they could also revisit it just before the start of next season.
And we may have arrived at that point.
Again, all of this could be moot (especially if Kuminga doesn’t land with the Kings), and most of this is simply educated speculation, but it’s certainly a possibility to keep an eye on. And one that Heat fans probably wouldn’t be completely behind.
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