Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Miami Heat is one of the teams open to sell prior to the February 2017 trade deadline.
Miami is expected to retool their roster before the deadline as part of the team's plan to rebuild fast, which Heat president Pat Riley confirmed last year. According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, there is a growing sense the Heat would explore "liquidating not only Dragic, but many of the veteran guys," including Hassan Whiteside, who signed a four-year $98.4 million contract with the team this past summer.
"HEAT sources have said rebuilding around a 30-year point guard wouldn't be the worst thing to do, but there is a growing sense that Miami explores liquidating not only Dragic but many of the veteran guys they have on expiring deals to collect rookie scale players or draft picks," Kyler wrote.
Dragic and Whiteside have been considered as the cornerstone of the Heat franchise since the "Big Three Era" ended in South Beach. While both have been posting solid numbers for Miami, the team is still in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference and may miss the playoffs for the second time in three years.
However, trading both veterans could prove too difficult for the Heat. Several teams would surely have interest in trading for either of the mentioned players, but ESPN's Zach Lowe reported that the Heat can hold out any potential move for a "hefty return," particularly for Dragic, who has drawn interest from the Orlando Magic.
Nevertheless, there are still teams out there who would need players like Dragic and Whiteside on their roster.
The Philadelphia 76ers have a plethora of young talented big men, with the team yet to address their frontcourt logjam. Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel have been touted as the likely odd men out in Philadelphia, and considering their age and talent, they could be the perfect pieces Miami need to rebuild. If the Heat wants to get young talents and picks for the 30-year-old point guard, the 76ers would be an ideal destination for Dragic.
Meanwhile, there won't be any shortage of suitors for Whiteside, with several teams looking for a defensive big man in the trade market. But considering the idea of the Heat wanting to get young and cheap talents in return, trading Whiteside to the Los Angeles Lakers could be the best move for Miami.
"Up and down the roster, literally every player," Lowe said on his podcast. "Literally no one is untouchable, not even Hassan Whiteside, by a long shot."
The Lakers are among the handful of teams that have plenty of young talents, who could serve as potential trade chips for Los Angeles. While Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has insisted the unlikeliness of moving any of their young guns before the trade deadline, it would be disappointing for the Lakers to pass up on a talented center like Whiteside, who dominates on both ends of the floor.
Dragic and Whiteside would surely be costly for teams looking to add depth on their roster. But if the 76ers and Lakers are open for business and willing to meet Miami's asking price, it is something the Heat organization must consider.
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