Pau Gasol (Photo : Getty Images)
The NBA trade rumors continue and the Miami Heat was recently scrutinized by the experts on possible moves to make.
It has been an exercise of ESPN Insider to analyze all 30 NBA teams prior to the trade deadline on their trade targets and their best trade chips, among other things. The Miami Heat is on the board.
The assessment names Miami as buyers on the trade deadline as they are a team that can contend but still lack consistency. The Heat is currently too good to make trades that would jeopardize their chances to contend this season, but they also have hard choices to make, specifically concerning Hassan Whiteside.
Whiteside has the best value contract in the league but it is almost certain that Miami would lose him to high bidders that they could not match this off-season. With this complicated situation, Bradford Doolittle suggested they execute a multi-team trade from fellow insider Kevin Pelton that could net them the Chicago Bulls' big man Pau Gasol.
"Here's one from Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider, a three-way trade. The Heat would send Whiteside, McRoberts, Andersen and Udonis Haslem to Portland, the Blazers would send Mason Plumlee and Cliff Alexander to Chicago, and the Bulls would send Gasol to Miami," Doolittle wrote.
The ESPN insider admits that the Chicago Bulls would get the shorter end of the stick here, but they have their own agenda to fulfill as they want to get younger. Plumlee is a full ten years younger and there is also the lingering fact that Gasol can pack up and leave Chicago at the end of the season.
Gasol can combine with Chris Bosh for a frontline rich in championship experience. They would miss Whiteside's rim protection, but there are some quarters who note that Miami's defensive efficiency stands pat even with Whiteside off the floor.
From the fans of Miami, they have given a seal of approval on this proposed transaction via Miami Slice. Gasol would re-invigorate the offense and have defenses confused because of Pau's post skill and Bosh's ability to stretch the floor. Gasol is a much better team player than Whiteside with his passing ability and high basketball IQ which could make up for the athleticism they lose in Whiteside.
