It’s funny how expectations can color perception. The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers entered the 2021-22 NBA season with vastly different expectations.

As a result, the team that had a more successful season is the team that wound up disappointed.

The Heat advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. Relative to expectations, that was a solid finish, but not an exceptional one. This organization isn’t known for accepting less than exceptional.

All the chatter around them at the moment suggests that they’re dissatisfied with how the year played out. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers narrowly missed the playoffs after losing in the play-in tournament. That’s fine. They had a breakout season. This team’s core is so young that even sniffing the playoffs has to be viewed as a success.

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Both of these squads will aim to take a step forward next season. The Heat will be in championship-or-bust mode. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers won’t be satisfied with approaching the playoffs. They’ll either make them, or they’ll have had a disappointing season.

Here’s a trade that could end up benefitting both sides.