It would be safe to say that most Miami Heat fans are not satisfied with the franchise’s lack of activity this offseason following a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Boston Celtics, while other Eastern Conference teams like the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and more, have strengthened significantly.
The Heat’s most significant addition this offseason has been Alec Burks. On the other hand, it is very possible that they have gotten weaker since last season, with Caleb Martin leaving for Philadelphia this summer. Of course, if the Heat can get healthy, it will go a long way.
At the same time, they might need a lot more than just that to compete. It remains to be seen if the Heat end up trying to pull off some blockbuster trades in the near future. Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks has been suggested as a potential option. In the article ‘Imagining Every NBA Team’s Top 3 Trade Targets’ on Bleacher Report, Greg Swartz wrote:
“The Miami Heat don’t have a glaring positional weakness and should be exploring upgrades or additional depth alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. “After striking out on Damian Lillard last offseason the Heat still have a need for an All-Star caliber point guard, a role that Young would flourish in. Miami finished just 21st overall in offense and 29th in pace last season, two areas Young could help ignite.” Young’s future in Atlanta has been in doubt for a while as the Hawks have failed to make progress in the postseason.
So, many believe that it might be time for the Hawks to move away from the ‘Trae Young era’ and try something fresh. Of course, that does not mean that the three-time All-Star could not be an asset to other teams. Young is an excellent scorer and playmaker. Sure, there are weaknesses to his game, but if there is one coach who knows how to hide them, it is Erik Spoelstra. Additionally, he would not need to be the main guy in Miami. Of course, any move for Young would be a risky one for the Heat. But it is a risk that they might need to take if they want to be contenders again.