The Miami Heat have frequently been linked with superstar Damian Lillard this offseason, but thus far no trade has materialized. The Portland Trail Blazers clearly want a haul for their franchise player, and as of right now, it doesn’t seem as though the Miami Heat have the assets to land him unless they involve a third team.
Perhaps the best option for the Miami Heat is to pivot to another star-level target that could take them to the next level. They lost starting point guard Gabe Vincent, and they clearly have a need in that department. Guard James Harden wants a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers right now, and perhaps the Miami Heat could try and get him. Here is a potential trade framework that involves guard Tyler Herro.
Miami Heat Receive: James Harden
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Tyler Herro, Caleb Martin
This deal has potential upside for both teams and allows the two Eastern Conference contenders to make tweaks without sacrificing big parts of their cores. Here is why both teams should consider making this trade.
The Miami Heat Go All-In On Their Pursuit Of A Championship
One of the Miami Heat’s biggest issues throughout the whole playoffs was their lack of consistent shot creation and offense outside of Jimmy Butler. It is clear that the team needs to address this issue this offseason if they are to remain contenders, and adding James Harden could potentially help them in that department.
Even though James Harden is no longer the scorer that he once was during his time with the Houston Rockets, he is still an elite complementary player who can be the secondary option on an elite team. Harden is also a gifted playmaker who can run the offense and get the role players on the squad easy shots. Though it is clear that he is not as good as Damian Lillard, he is definitely a target that the team has the assets to acquire, especially on an expiring deal.
Though losing two key role players in Tyler Herro and Caleb Martin will definitely be tough for the Heat, the increase in star power could be absolutely worth it. After all, it is the stars that win you playoff games and series, and perhaps James Harden can be the difference-maker for the Miami Heat.
This past season, James Harden averaged 21.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 10.7 APG for the Philadelphia 76ers, while shooting 38.5% from the 3PT range. Most people would agree that he is a top-20 player in the league right now, and that is the sort of acquisition that could help the Miami Heat win the 2024 championship.
The Philadelphia 76ers Get A Solid Return For James Harden
If James Harden plans to leave regardless of what the team does, then it is in the Philadelphia 76ers’ best interests to trade him away for a deal that helps them stay afloat in the Eastern Conference with Joel Embiid. This trade package from the Miami Heat would give the 76ers two solid players that would help them maintain their status as threats in the East.
Tyler Herro is the key appeal for the Philadelphia 76ers here, and he is a quality scorer who still has some untapped potential. In the regular season with the Miami Heat, Tyler Herro averaged 20.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 4.2 APG while shooting 37.8% from 3PT range. He could give the team a perimeter shot creation element, and it is quite likely that he and Tyrese Maxey would be a great offensive backcourt alongside Joel Embiid.
Caleb Martin played a key role for the Miami Heat in the playoffs, averaging 12.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 1.6 APG while shooting a blistering 42.3% from beyond the arc. Martin is definitely a quality 3 and D player, who has shown that he will show up in the biggest moments. Perhaps he could play the sixth-man role for the Philadelphia 76ers, providing scoring off the bench.
From the Philadelphia 76ers’ perspective, this is clearly a decent return for James Harden on an expiring contract. Getting a player like Tyler Herro who is locked in for the next few seasons, as well as a solid contributor like Caleb Martin would be solid for the team’s chances at contention.
This Deal Would Be A Win-Win Deal For Both Teams
There is no doubt that this deal could work out for both teams involved. This would be an all-in move on the Miami Heat, trying to maximize Jimmy Butler’s remaining years playing at a superstar level. The team would likely try to re-sign James Harden, and if the team is a contender, there is no reason for Harden to leave. Miami is also a big market city with a lot of great off-court activities and business opportunities, and it seems as though it is a city James Harden would like.
From the Philadelphia 76ers’ perspective, getting a couple of younger players who are hungry could go a long way. Tyler Herro and Caleb Martin are more willing to play off-the-ball than James Harden, and they could be better fits next to superstar Joel Embiid due to that. Though they would lose some star power by moving James Harden, the effect of that could also mean the blossoming of Tyler Herro and Tyler Maxey, who would enjoy more responsibility on the offensive end of the ball.
It would be interesting to see whether either team would consider this deal. James Harden doesn’t have the Miami Heat on his radar right now, and the Heat are clearly interested in landing Damian Lillard. With that being said, James Harden and the Heat could be a realistic scenario at some point later this offseason, and we’ll see what ends up happening in the future with this situation.
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