Why The Miami Heat Do The Deal 

Remember what we said about Kyle Lowry’s 2021-22 playoff performance? It was ugly. In fact, it was so poor that it has people posing an unexpected question: 

Is there a starting caliber point guard on this roster? 

Following this deal, there certainly would be. VanVleet is an elite shot creator whose floor spacing would complement both Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. There is no question that he’d make the Heat a better team in 2022-23. 

Moreover, he comes at the expense of another player who turned in a dreadful 2021-22 playoffs. In fact, Duncan Robinson struggled so mightily on defense that he fell out of the Heat’s postseason rotation altogether. All told, this is a massive roster upgrade for Miami. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder & Toronto Raptors Updates

Of course, it also comes at the expense of two first-round picks. As title contenders, that shouldn’t concern them. Are the Raptors really ready to join them in contention?