Biggest need Miami must address at the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline
Like a thief in the night, the Miami Heat have sneakily taken the top spot in the Eastern Conference midway through the 2021-22 season. The fact that this has happened despite dealing with injuries to their two top stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo speaks volumes of their resiliency and togetherness. This further proves that this Heat team is a legitimate contender to make it back to the NBA Finals and win it all in June.
But even with their success, Miami is still far from a finished product roster-wise. They still have some holes to fill and issues to address if they want to boost their chances of winning a championship. Pat Riley isn’t one to stay quiet at the NBA trade deadline. The Godfather is always on the lookout for potential moves to improve his roster.
There have been a lot of Christian Wood discussions over the past days as a potential Heat trade target. But arguably one of Miami’s glaring needs this season is a backup guard to spell 35-year old point guard Kyle Lowry. Perhaps the Heat can address that by making a move on or before February 10th.
Biggest need Heat must address at NBA Trade Deadline: Backup Point Guard
Miami only has two point guards listed on its roster this season: Kyle Lowry and Gabriel Vincent.
Don’t get us wrong, Vincent has been quite the pleasant surprise for the Heat. The 25-year old has appeared in 40 games this season, starting in 16 of them. Vincent is averaging 8.9 points and 3.2 assists in 22.8 minutes a night. With those numbers, it’s clear he is as qualified as anyone to be Lowry’s reserve.
Nonetheless, Miami would still be better off getting a more experienced floor general to back up Lowry. This is the first time Vincent is getting decent rotational minutes in his career. The Heat may be more comfortable in acquiring a safer insurance over the 3rd year guard.
Some Heat fans may argue that Tyler Herro could handle some of the playmaking and ballhandling duties off the bench. And he’s proven this regular season that he is capable of doing just that, averaging a career-best 4.0 assists per game. Nonetheless, the Heat would likely prefer him to be in more of a scorer’s mode when the postseason arrives.
Victor Oladipo could also step in that role when he comes back from injury. However, he’s too much of a wildcard given his injury history.
The Heat have also been linked to Houston Rockets guard John Wall. However, the 31-year old’s contract is too expensive for Miami to acquire via trade. There could be a path for them to bring in Wall should he and the Rockets agree on a buyout.
In terms of targets, Miami could look at Detroit Pistons guard Cory Joseph. In his 11th NBA season, Joseph has proven to be a reliable veteran leader. He fits the bill as a steady backup in case the Heat need another second or third string guard. The Heat could also target another Rockets guard in D.J. Augustin. At 34 years old, he also has a ton of experience under his belt.
Miami may have the best record in the East right now. But don’t be shocked if they make multiple moves at the deadline, including acquiring another reserve point guard.
