The Heat have lost 7-of-8 games and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald wonders whether the club should search the trade market for an upgrade at the power forward spot. Meyers Leonard is out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, making Miami even thinner at the position.
LaMarcus Aldridge would be a nice addition for the franchise, fitting nicely alongside Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt. Aldridge is in the final year of his contract and he and fellow vet Rudy Gay coming to Miami in a deal might make sense for both sides.
Jackson also names P.J. Tucker, who appears to be on the trade block in Houston, Bulls’ power forward Lauri Markkanen, and Hawks big man John Collins as other fits.
More from the Eastern Conference
- The Knicks are rumored to have interest in trading for Victor Oladipo and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson tweets that the shooting guard has a good relationship with GM Scott Perry. Robinson also adds that Oladipo and Miami’s Pat Riley have “mutual respect.” The former No. 2 overall pick will be a free agent at the end of the year.
- Kevin Knox has fallen out of the Knicks’ rotation, though he’s working diligently to stay ready for when his time comes again. “I’m going to continue to be ready, because anything can happen, at any moment, any given time,” Knox said (via Peter Botte of the New York Post). “So I want to make sure that I’m ready. I’ll continue to get my reps up, continue to shoot the ball well, focus a lot on defense, watch a lot of film, so when they do call my number and my time does come, I’m ready.”
- The Heat will likely be approved for a $4.7 million Disabled Player Exception as a result of losing Leonard for the season, Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. Miami also has a $7.5 million trade exception and a $3.6 million bi-annual exception available.
