The Miami Heat have gotten off to a slow start to the 2020-21 NBA season. At the time of this writing, they are just 13-17 and aren’t looking anything like the team that made a run to the NBA Finals last season. Now, it appears that the Heat are trying to improve their roster and both DeMarcus Cousins and PJ Tucker are potential targets.
According to a report from Heat Nation, the Heat have interest in bringing in Cousins and Tucker. Both players would be quality additions to the Miami front-court.
Cousins and the Houston Rockets recently decided to part ways. The veteran big man carried himself well with the team, but the Rockets want to play younger players and they are parting ways with Cousins to give him a chance to join a contender. If the Heat want to bring him in, Pat Riley will need to convince him to sign with the franchise above the other potential suitors.
On the other hand, Tucker is a trade target for quite a few contenders. The Rockets have been open to dealing him for the majority of the season. Tucker isn’t a lethal scorer, but he can play high level defense and shoot the three.
So far this season in 25 games and 11 starts, Cousins has averaged 9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He has shot 37.6 percent from the floor and 33.6 percent from the three-point line. Cousins is no longer a star, but the Heat would still improve with him coming off the bench.
Tucker has averaged just 4.7 points per game to go along with 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He has shot 37.5 percent from the floor and 32.9 percent from three.
Neither of these guys is going to power the Heat to the NBA Finals. However, they need to improve their roster depth and bringing in one or both of these guys would help them accomplish that goal.
Expect to hear more rumors surrounding the Heat as the trade deadline draws closer. DeMarcus Cousins and PJ Tucker are two potential targets, but there are a lot of other teams in on them as well.
