The Miami Heat are trying to arrest a rough start to the 2023-24 NBA season. After going 1-4 in their opening five games, the Heat have pulled it back to .500 after eight games. The top of the East is looking solid, with the Philadelphia 76ers having joined the favorites, the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics, in the title race. The Heat have admittedly fallen behind, with one of the worst offenses in the league and a streaky roster.
The Pelicans have done the opposite of what the Heat have done, starting the season 4-1, and have since fallen to the same record as the Heat at 4-4. Even though they have looked strong with Zion Williamson healthy, CJ McCollum’s lung issues have affected their momentum. There are still issues with what the team can achieve in its current form, given how injuries seem to ruin every season. The Pelicans may be better off with a soft reboot of their core to surround Williamson with a young guard instead of a post scorer. As a result, a trade with the Heat could be the answer.
Trade Details
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, Caleb Martin, 2028 First-Round Pick (MIA)
Miami Heat Receive: Brandon Ingram
The Pelicans load up on rotational depth and acquire a future pick with a high-potential young prospect to part with Ingram, who’s had a decent start to the season. This would transform both teams and give them a chance to shake it up for a challenging season.
The Pelicans Adjust Their Timeline
The Pelicans have been trying to make a frontcourt duo of Zion and Ingram work for four seasons and health from either side hasn’t permitted that. Zion’s potential remains sky-high, while it seems we have seen the best Ingram can do. He’s an All-Star caliber forward but isn’t going to be the piece leading them to a title. As a result, the Pels can trade in his talent for the proven guard play of Tyler Herro.
Herro may be hated for his persona, but his on-court production for the Heat has been unquestionable. He;’s their offensive leader and can play in whatever offensive role he’s needed, whether it’s on or off the ball. He’s shown his playmaking chops this season, averaging 22.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists as the lead ball-handler on the Heat. His momentum has been scuppered by an ankle injury, but Herro has shown he has a lot of room for development while also being a high-level starter in the NBA right now.
Caleb Martin gives the Pelicans additional frontcourt depth, especially with the loss of Ingram. This move would open up a bigger role for Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, but Martin is a proven 3-and-D forward who could fit into any team that wants to contend. Nikola Jovic is young and has high potential, something the Pelicans could benefit from with this younger and slightly altered timeline with Herro and Zion.
The Miami Heat Add The Scoring Punch They Need
The Heat have been one of the worst offenses to start the season, even with Tyler Herro having a great start. The lack of a genuine playmaker has hurt them, but the lack of a wing scorer has been more damning. Jimmy Butler will not try and give you 30 a night in the regular season, so the Heat need a big body that can maneuver around rangy and strong defenders to get effortless buckets. Brandon Ingram fits that bill almost exactly, while also allowing the Heat to look for a pass-first PG or trusting Kyle Lowry to provide serviceable defense and playmaking for the team.
Ingram is averaging 21.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists to start the season. He is still finding a rhythm and has been playing within the flow of the team’s offense instead of hounding his own buckets. The Pelicans’ depth is one of the reasons for that, which has made Ingram play a more restrained and responsible style of basketball. The Heat need a maverick scorer who can carry the offense at times, especially when Butler looks to be a playmaker. With his passing and scoring ability, Ingram would be the perfect complementary piece.
Ingram isn’t an engaged defender for most of the year, but joining the Heat and being made to work within that system could help him finally use his lanky physical tools to be an impactful defender. With Bam Adebayo manning the center and Butler next to you as a perimeter hound, the pressure will be less which can allow Ingram to thrive in a defensive role as well.
A Deal To Set Both Franchises Up For Realistic Goals
The Pelicans can decide to move CJ McCollum and Jonas Valuncuinas for similar upgrades, as both those players can restrict the youth movement the Pelicans can usher in. The difference between this and other youth movements is that this is a win-now group that can compete every night, similar to the Thunder but with not as many future assets. Everything depends on Zion being healthy, but with Herro and the rest, this group can be competitive even without Zion while giving the team some room to grow with their strong potential young players.
The Heat will be taking a calculated risk by moving off Herro, Jovic, Martin, and a pick. Their depth isn’t the best and this takes more pieces away from the roster. But Jovic barely plays and Herro was antagonized for an entire summer in various trade rumors. Moving off that by acquiring Ingram, who’s a more polished prospect, would help the team be a contender this season. A 3-and-D wing like Martin will inevitably be replaced by the Heat factory line production of finding high-quality NBA players.
Both teams will be taking massive gambles by altering the direction of their teams, but it could work out in everyone’s favor over time. Ingram has some room to develop as a player, which could pay off for Miami if they’re the franchise to make it happen. Herro is on an upward trajectory on his own, so his partnership with someone like Zion could change the path of his career as well.
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