The Miami Heat pulled off the first of what could be many trades leading up to the March 25th NBA Trade Deadline. Miami sent Meyers Leonard and a 2027 second-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Trevor Ariza. However, before that trade, they tried to acquire Rudy Gay from the San Antonio Spurs.
While Ariza hasn’t played yet this season, this was a no-brainer deal for Miami. They surrendered nothing of value, as Leonard looks to be on his way out of the league after using anti-Semitic language on a stream and the draft pick won’t be relayed for six years.
In Ariza, the Heat are getting an experienced veteran that can play defense, knock down three-pointers, and shore up their depth on the wing. He will help replace a lot of what they lost when Jae Crowder left in free agency and signed with the Phoenix Suns. Maurice Harkless, whom Miami signed in free agency to fill the void, has yet to have an impact.
The trade for Ariza seemed to culminate almost out of nowhere, as the Heat had been linked to numerous other players on the trade market. P.J. Tucker and LaMarcus Aldridge were two players they were monitoring, in addition to Rudy Gay. According to the Miami Herald, it was Gay who the Heat were most interested in acquiring.
“According to a source in touch with the Heat, one reason the Heat jumped on the Trevor Ariza trade — instead of waiting until closer to the deadline to make a move — was because of an inability to agree on trade compensation for San Antonio’s Rudy Gay or P.J. Tucker, who was dealt from Houston to Milwaukee on Wednesday.
The Spurs asked for more than what the Heat was willing to give for Gay, who was the preferred choice of some internally, the source said.”
According to sources, the Spurs are looking for more than just expiring contracts in return for Gay. The Rockets were also looking for something better for Tucker, and they received it from the Milwaukee Bucks, who sent D.J. Augustin, D.J. Wilson, and an unprotected 2023 first-round pick to Houston in exchange for Tucker, Rodions Kurucs, and the Bucks’ 2022 first-round pick back.
Like Ariza, Rudy Gay would have provided Miami with some much-needed depth on the wings. He offers a little more offensive punch than Ariza, which would make up for his lesser defense. Gay had also been playing some center for San Antonio, a weak spot for Miami as they have virtually no depth behind Bam Adebayo and Kelly Olynyk upfront.
With Ariza now in the fold, Miami can focus on some other players, such as Avery Bradley, if they so choose.
