Proposed Trade Lands Former DPOY With Miami Heat

The Miami Heat recently acquired Norman Powell via a three-team trade with the LA Clippers and Utah Jazz. Pat Riley gave up Kyle Anderson, Kevin Love and a second-round pick to get the deal over the finish line.

Powell will provide a significant scoring punch for Erik Spoelstra’s team. However, if the Heat are going to be a competitive roster, more moves will be needed ahead of next season.

ClutchPoints’ Jedd Pagaduan has proposed a deal that would see the Heat move on from Terry Rozier. Marcus Smart would head to South Beach in return, providing the franchise with some additional perimeter defense and 3-point scoring. Pagaduan’s proposed trade would look like this:

Miami Heat Receive: Marcus Smart

Washington Wizards Receive: Terry Rozier

“Trading Rozier for another depressed asset might be the way,” Pagaduan reasoned. “And with that, why not approach the Washington Wizards on a potential one on one swap for Marcus Smart, who’s in the final year of his contract making $21.6 million.”

Smart was named as the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year. He became a fan favorite for the Boston Celtics due to his aggressive style of play and how he always put his body on the line. Throughout his career, Smart has improved as a perimeter scorer and a playmaker. He’s also been the lead ball-handler on an NBA Finals team, so he is battle-tested at the highest levels.

Smart’s Injury History is a Concern

The downside of potentially trading for Smart is that he has struggled with injury issues since leaving the Celtics. Over the past two seasons, he’s played in a total of 54 games. Entering his age-31 season, Smart must prove that his issues are behind him; otherwise, he may struggle to earn another contract in the NBA.

The Heat’s dedication to fitness and having players be in tip-top shape could help get Smart’s career back on track. Of course, the risk is that he spends the year on the treatment table rather than the basketball court. Still, if that outcome does occur, he will hit the free agency market next summer. Therefore, acquiring him would be a low-risk, high-reward type of move.

After all, Smart is a winning basketball player when he’s healthy and cleared to play.

Heat Could Target Bradley Beal

Assuming Bradley Beal is bought out of his contract with the Phoenix Suns, he could be another new addition to Miami’s roster ahead of next season.

“Miami has been interested in Beal dating back to his time with the Washington Wizards,” Doric Sam of Bleacher Report wrote. “The Heat pursued him this past season as they attempted to trade star forward Jimmy Butler, but Beal’s massive contract halted that chase..After shipping Butler to the Golden State Warriors, Miami has an opening on the wing between star guard Tyler Herro and star big man Bam Adebayo.”

Beal could draw interest from multiple teams around the NBA if he hits the free agency market. However, Miami can offer him a leading role, playing under arguably the best coach in the league. If Beal is bought out, South Beach could be a logical next step in his career.