The Miami Heat are once again a stout team defensively this NBA season, ranking third in defensive rating. But, if they are going to get over the hump and become a true contender for the NBA championship, they have to make improvements offensively.
There is a lot of pressure currently on Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro to do everything on offense. They are the three leading scorers on the team and three of the better playmakers as well.
One reason that they are carrying so much of the load has been the performance of Kyle Lowry. Lowry is a gamer and consummate professional, but a strong argument could be made that until they move on from him, the Heat may not be able to reach that championship level.
Lowry has seen his production on the court really slip since coming to South Beach. His deteriorating health is a big reason for that as he is having arguably his worst season since becoming a starter in the NBA.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, Minnesota Timberwolves & Miami Heat Updates
Trading him won’t be easy, but the Heat should shop around and see what they could come up with. One possible trade partner could be the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have reportedly been dangling D’Angelo Russell in trade talks.
Bobby Marks of ESPN proposed a deal that would send Russell and a 2028 second-round pick to the Heat in exchange for Lowry and Dewayne Dedmond. That would be a huge risk for Minnesota to take on Lowry, who has one season remaining on his contract. But, monetarily, it could make a lot of sense as it would enable them to retain key rotation players in Taurean Price and Jordan McLaughlin without going over the luxury tax.
From Miami’s perspective, a deal like that would likely be viewed as a win. They would get out from under the final season of Lowry’s deal, which looks like a sunk cost currently. Russell has some shortcomings defensively, but given how dominant Miami is on that end of the court, they should be able to compensate.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, Minnesota Timberwolves & Miami Heat Updates
Where Russell would really help the team is on offense. He would provide them with another capable ball-handler, shooter, and scorer. While his defense leaves something to be desired, Russell is in the midst of the best shooting season of his career. He is making 46.4 percent of his shots overall and 38.9 percent from 3-point range, averaging 18.1 points per game.
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