It’s been a difficult 2023-24 NBA season for the Brooklyn Nets. Nobody had the Nets pegged for title contention, but they were supposed to be competitive. So far, they look like a lottery team.
With that in mind, the Nets just fired Jacque Vaughn. They’ll be seeking an interim head coach next. Typically, a midseason firing doesn’t reflect a team that’s happy with their position.
The Nets can’t let this continue. They owe the rights to their first-round picks to the Houston Rockets through to 2027. Yet, they may want to collect assets to spend instead of making a win-now push. Could they send Dorian Finney-Smith to the Miami Heat?
NBA Trade Proposal
Brooklyn Nets Receive: G/F Duncan Robinson, 2027 First-Round Pick (Top 5 Protected – MIA)
Miami Heat Receive: F Dorian Finney-Smith
With that said, it hasn’t been an optimal season for the Heat either. They’re not in the lottery. The Heat are in the backend of the playoffs. Haven’t we seen this before?
Sure. We saw this last year. The Heat had to advance through the play-in tournament to make the playoffs. In the end, it didn’t matter – the Heat advanced to the NBA Finals.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat Updates
Will they repeat that performance this year? Time will tell. It’s not out of the realm of possibility, but it isnt likely either. Does this deal make sense for Miami either way?
Why The Miami Heat Do The Deal
Frankly, the Heat could have used a player like Finney-Smith in last year’s Finals. Kevin Love and Caleb Martin both struggled with Aaron Gordon for different reasons. Miami was lacking a big, 3-and-D wing to play at the 4.
Finney-Smith fits that description perfectly. He’s the most impactful player in this deal. The Heat are an organization that typically prefers win-now moves. They may not mind parting with a protected pick to upgrade their roster no matter how this season ends.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat Updates
Yes, they’ll miss Robinson. He’s been a key cog for Miami this year. Still, if they can replace his shooting, they’ll live without his secondary playmaking if they’re adding Finney-Smith. Should the Nets part with him?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
Finney-Smith is a ceiling raiser. He’s a valuable role player, but if he doesn’t have a star to compliment, he doesn’t help all that much. Unfortunately, the Nets don’t have a primary playmaker.
Indirectly, this deal is about landing one. The Nets have a solid amount of draft capital. Still, if a star player hits the open market, they may not have the winning bid. This deal is about changing that.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat Updates
Meanwhile, Robinson is a solid rotation player in his own right. He may even be a better fit for a team that already has other 3-and-D wings. Who knows? Robinson may help the Nets’ next coach keep his job.
