Atlanta Hawks' Al Horford (L) and Jeff Teague. (Photo : Getty Images)
The Miami Heat remains interested in trading for Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague and power forward Al Horford. Barry Jackson of Miami Herald pointed out about the Heat's pursuit of established players before the trade deadline expires at 3 p.m on Thursday.
The Heat are in dire need of help in the frontline after learning that Chris Bosh's blood clotting problem has re-emerged, making the All-Star power forward questionable to return this season.
Aside from injuries, the Heat are also dealing with some chemistry issues in their backcourt. Goran Dragic, who signed a five-year, $85 million deal last summer, is apparently having problem fitting in with another ball-dominant guard in Dwyane Wade. The Slovenian guard is just averaging 12.2 points and 5.3 assists in 32 minutes per game this year.
There are rumblings (Link Sportrageous) that the Heat is actually willing to give up Dragic, Hassan Whiteside and a future draft pick to land both Teague and Horford at trade deadline. To make the deal work financially, the Heat will have to find a third team acting as a conduit party.
Horford (15.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg and 1.5 bpg) and Teague (15.5 ppg and 5.5 apg) would easily provide the interior and backcourt productions the Heat will be needing to keep them relevant in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Philadelphia entertaining offers for rookie Jahlil Okafor: Sixers beat writer Tom Moore of Calkins Media reported that the Sixers are gauging interest in the rookie big man. Okafor, the no.3 overall pick in the 2015 Draft, is averaging 17.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game this season, but the Sixers appears more interested in pairing Nerlens Noel with Joel Embiid, who is recovering from a broken foot. According to Jackson, the Heat are also considering a trade for Okafor.
Dwight Howard still on the block: Howard is still at the center of trade speculations less than 4 hours left before deadline. According to Frank Isola of New York Post, Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, is working closely with the Rockets in their attempt to find a new home for the All-Star big man. The Hornets, Hawks, Raptors, and Celtics have inquired for big man's availability, while the Heat are still in the game.
