In the summer of 2019, the Miami Heat made a bold move by acquiring a highly scrutinized superstar. This decision led to an immediate NBA Finals appearance, igniting one of the franchise’s most successful eras.
Acquiring Jimmy Butler back then was seen as a risky gamble for a team in dire need of a superstar. The Heat traded Hassan Whiteside, Josh Richardson, and a first-round pick for Butler. In hindsight, this deal was a steal, though it wasn’t as obvious at the time. CBS Sports graded the Heat’s trade with a B, while the 76ers, who received Richardson in return, got an A.
Taking a chance on a polarizing superstar worked wonders for the Heat before. Five years later, they might have a chance to do it again.
According to a hypothetical trade idea proposed by Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey, the Heat could potentially acquire Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks without paying the usual high price for such talent.
In this proposal, the Heat would receive Young and second-year guard Kobe Bufkin in exchange for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Terry Rozier, a 2028 first-round pick swap, and a 2030 first-round pick swap.
Bailey explains: “The Miami Heat don’t have a ton of draft capital to offer in trades, but they might not need it after the way some of their young players performed this season. Given his point forward potential, Jaime Jaquez Jr. should be worth more than most of the first-round picks in this year’s draft.”
Why the Heat Should Consider the Trade
This trade would significantly upgrade the Heat’s offensive talent. The team ranked 21st in offensive rating this season and 25th in the previous one. Meanwhile, the Hawks, under Young’s leadership, have consistently ranked high in offensive rating over the last four years.
Young is a divisive figure, known for his tense relationships with media and coaches and a playing style that some see as selfish. However, his talent is undeniable. Young is a top-10 offense by himself and arguably the best pick-and-roll ball-handler in the league.
While Young likes to control the offense, this might suit the Heat well, as their stars, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, prefer to take smaller offensive roles.
Even after parting with some assets, the Heat could provide Young with more support than he had in Atlanta. Imagine Young running pick-and-rolls with Adebayo or having Butler as an offensive outlet. Young could also work with shooters like Duncan Robinson and break with Nikola Jovic—opportunities he lacked in Atlanta.
Defensively, the Heat should still be strong enough to compensate for Young’s weaknesses. Erik Spoelstra, Butler, and Adebayo have proven they can maintain a top-10 defense even with defensive liabilities like Herro and Robinson playing significant minutes.
While losing young talents like Herro and Jaquez would be tough, retaining Jovic and draft picks makes this trade a no-brainer for the Heat.
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