Miami Heat

The Miami Heat appear to be the favorite to land power forward LaMarcus Aldridge as the veteran big man prepares to part ways with the San Antonio Spurs.   

According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, league sources believe the Heat are the most likely team to add Aldridge as a free agent should the Spurs fail to find a trade partner and buy out his contract instead. It could be the start of a major week for Miami, which is reportedly pushing to complete a trade for Toronto Raptors star Kyle Lowry, as well.

In 21 games this year, the seven-time All-Star is averaging 13.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 46.4 percent from the field.

It's not entirely clear if the Heat would ask him to remain in a starting role or use him more off the bench. Now 35 years old and 15 years into his career, Aldridge has started 958 of 961 games since his rookie season. Yet Miami's frontcourt is already in solid shape with Bam Adebayo and Kelly Olynyk starting ahead of KZ Okpala and rookie Precious Achiuwa. 

While Olynyk has been mentioned in trade talks, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, it's not immediately clear if he'll be on the move before the March 25 deadline. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers have also been rumored as possible destinations for Aldridge if the Heat are unable to land him.

Aldridge is finishing up a two-year, $50 million contract and will become a free agent after this season. That heavy price tag may make a buyout more likely considering how much salary teams would be adding via trade. 

In the meantime, the Heat continue to plot a return to the NBA Finals after falling to the Los Angeles Lakers last year. 

The Miami Heat could trade Andre Iguodala in an effort to land a top player ahead of the March 25 deadline, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe of ESPN.

"Do not rule out" a deal featuring the veteran forward, per Lowe.

Iguodala has provided valuable experience off the bench for Miami, but his $15 million salary in 2020-21 could be needed to match salaries in a trade.

Miami has reportedly focused on Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, who has a $30.5 million salary. The team might have to include Iguodala and Kelly Olynyk ($12.6 million) in any package for a trade to work.

Miami might need a big swing at the trade deadline in order to remain a contender for the NBA title this season.

After reaching the NBA Finals last year, the squad has struggled with consistency and sits fifth in the East at 22-21. A surge of 11 wins in 12 games was followed by three straight losses. Even with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and plenty of depth, there doesn't appear to be enough firepower to keep up with the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.

This could mean parting with a player who has been to the NBA Finals in six straight seasons.

Iguodala was a key piece for the Golden State Warriors during their run of three championships in five years, winning Finals MVP in 2015. He brought his skill set to the Heat after a midseason trade last term and appeared in all 21 playoff games.

The 37-year-old is averaging just 4.7 points per game in 2020-21, but he plays 21.4 minutes per game and ranks fifth on the team with 1.3 win shares, per Basketball Reference.

The Miami Heat reportedly could be in line to make some big moves leading up to Thursday's NBA trade deadline.

During an appearance on SportsCenter on Sunday, ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst said the Heat "covet" point guard Kyle Lowry in a potential trade with the Toronto Raptors.

Windhorst also reported that San Antonio Spurs big man LaMarcus Aldridge has the Heat "high on his list" of landing spots should he receive a buyout.

The Raptors have had a surprisingly poor season, two years removed from winning the NBA championship, as they sit 11th in the Eastern Conference at 17-24.

They are far from out of it since they trail the eighth-place Boston Celtics by just three games and are only 1.5 games out of a spot in the postseason play-in tournament, but there is a chance they could be sellers. If they do decide to make a move, Lowry is a potential trade chip since he is a free agent at the end of the season.

The soon-to-be-35-year-old veteran saw his All-Star streak of six in a row come to an end this season, but he has still been highly productive, averaging 17.6 points, 7.5 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 2.8 three-pointers made in 34 games.

Miami has righted the ship since a rough start to the season, sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference at 22-20, including an 11-3 record in its past 14 games. Lowry would fill a huge need for the Heat, as it would take some of the ball-handling pressure off Jimmy Butler. Lowry would also give the Heat a true point guard, which is something Tyler Herro and Goran Dragic aren't.

Aldridge, 35, figures to become available soon as well, either via trade or buyout, as Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich told ESPN's Tim MacMahon earlier in March that Aldridge and the team "mutually agreed for him to work on some opportunities elsewhere."

While Aldridge is having his worst statistical season since his rookie season with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2006-07, his experience of 1,024 regular-season games and 72 playoff games could come in handy for a Heat team looking to make a deep playoff run.

The seven-time All-Star's 13.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in 21 contests this season don't jump off the page, but he could be a solid complement to star center Bam Adebayo.

Windhorst noted that signing Aldridge would perhaps allow the Heat to send some of their forward depth to Toronto as part of a Lowry trade.

A roster consisting of Butler, Adebayo, Lowry, Herro, Dragic, Aldridge, Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson would unquestionably make the Heat a threat to reach the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season, even in a conference that includes heavy hitters like the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks.

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke out against racism toward Asian Americans in the wake of the Atlanta-area shootings Tuesday that killed eight people, including six women of Asian descent.

"Look, I am Asian American," he said Friday, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. "I'm proud to be Asian American. And seeing what's happening, with another just outright form of racism and hatred, it really is sickening. It breaks my heart. It is despicable."

Spoelstra is among the most prominent Asian American voices in the NBA.

He has been the head coach of the Heat since the 2008-09 season and has two championships to go with five NBA Finals appearances.

He is not the only one with NBA ties to raise concerns about the racism Asian American and Pacific Islander communities are facing. Jeremy Lin, who played nine seasons in the league, tweeted about the "heartbreaking" events in the Atlanta area:

Kate Sullivan of CNN reported President Joe Biden condemned the "skyrocketing" hate crimes against Asian Americans.

He and Vice President Kamala Harris also met with AAPI leaders in Atlanta on Friday in the wake of the shootings.

Some members within the Miami Heat organization preferred to trade for San Antonio Spurs forward Rudy Gay as opposed to Oklahoma City Thunder forward Trevor Ariza, who was dealt to South Beach on Wednesday for a package that included a draft pick and Heat big man Meyers Leonard.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald provided more details, noting the Spurs and Heat talked about Gay but were unable to agree to terms:

"According to a source in touch with the Heat, one reason the Heat jumped on the Trevor Ariza trade—instead of waiting until closer to the deadline to make a move—was because of an inability to agree on trade compensation for San Antonio's Rudy Gay or P.J. Tucker, who was dealt from Houston to Milwaukee on Wednesday. The Spurs asked for more than what the Heat was willing to give for Gay, who was the preferred choice of some internally, the source said."

Gay, 34, has averaged 10.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per game for the Spurs. He has also hit 37.9 percent of his three-pointers.

Ariza, 35, has not played for the Thunder this season. He was listed as out for personal reasons for the team's 2020-21 opener against the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 26, and there wasn't much word on him until March.

However, the Heat tweeted that the team is hoping Ariza is available for games this weekend. The Heat also noted that he'd been in NBA testing protocols prior to the move.

Miami has a two-game series at home against the Indiana Pacers on Friday and Sunday.

Ariza averaged 8.0 points on 43.8 percent shooting and 4.6 rebounds for the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers in 2019-20. He opted out of the season restart following the pandemic-induced suspension because of a family matter.

Ariza's next time on the court will mark the beginning of his 17th NBA season. He joins a Heat team that has won 11 of its past 13 games to improve to 22-19.

The Miami Heat might be shopping veteran big man Kelly Olynyk before the NBA's March 25 trade deadline, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Olynyk is averaging 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from long range through 40 games.

The Heat traded Meyers Leonard and a 2027 second-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Trevor Ariza on Wednesday.

Leonard is recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery and earned a one-week suspension from team activities and a $50,000 fine after using an anti-Semitic slur during a Call of Duty stream. His departure felt inevitable.

Olynyk, on the other hand, has been a steady member of the first unit, making 35 starts and averaging 27.1 minutes per game.

The team might have reservations about the 29-year-old's suitability for the postseason, though.

While he can space the floor, Olynyk's offensive value is limited. On defense, he's allowing opponents to shoot 43.2 percent on three-pointers, per NBA.com. When he's on the floor in the playoffs, opposing coaches will presumably look to exploit him frequently on defensive switches.

Olynyk is on an expiring contract as well. His $18.3 million cap hold for 2021-22, per Spotrac, carries some theoretical value to Miami, but the team might find something better in a trade.

Perhaps the Heat would also like to move him with an eye toward targeting a replacement on the buyout market once the deadline passes.

Fresh off acquiring Trevor Ariza from the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, the surging Miami Heat don't appear close to finishing improvements to their roster. 

According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, Miami is "expected to remain in contention" to sign LaMarcus Aldridge on the buyout market if the San Antonio Spurs are unable to trade him ahead of the March 25 deadline. 

The Heat (22-18) have gone 9-1 in their last 10 games and moved into fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Miami is now six games back of the first-place Philadelphia 76ers and closing ground rather quickly.

Aldridge's numbers have noticeably declined this season as the Spurs fight for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, yet that doesn't mean he couldn't help a contender down the stretch.

In 21 games, the center is posting 13.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists over 25.9 minutes per night. In Miami, there's a strong chance he'd be asked to provide depth off the bench behind Bam Adebayo, Kelly Olynyk and rookie Precious Achiuwa. 

If Aldridge can provide valuable minutes in shorter spurts, he could fit well. But he's likely get other buyout offers.

Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic reported Monday that the Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers are also interested in scooping up Aldridge if he's bought out of his expiring $24 million contract. The forward began his career with the Blazers, and a reunion would make plenty of sense. Portland is sixth in the Western Conference standings despite a clear need in the frontcourt. 

The Celtics are in a similar position in the Eastern Conference.

As the trade deadline nears and the Spurs run out of potential trade partners, Aldridge's future looks increasingly up to him. 

The Miami Heat are reportedly acquiring veteran forward Trevor Ariza from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Meyers Leonard and a 2027 second-round pick, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. 

So, what does Miami's depth chart look like with Ariza heading to Miami? 

• PG: Kendrick Nunn / Goran Dragic / Gabe Vincent
• SG: Duncan Robinson / Tyler Herro / Avery Bradley (injured) / Max Strus
• SF: Jimmy Butler / Andre Iguodala / KZ Okpala
• PF: Kelly Olynyk / Trevor Ariza / Precious Achiuwa / Maurice Harkless
• C: Bam Adebayo / Chris Silva

The 35-year-old hasn't played in a year after opting out of the NBA's restart in Orlando during the COVID-19 pandemic with the Portland Trail Blazers last season. In November, he was acquired by Oklahoma City in a three-team trade with the Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks and, as Woj noted, "was traded from Portland to Houston to Detroit to Oklahoma City" in a single week over the offseason. 

Ariza never reported to the Thunder.

In 53 games last season for the Sacramento Kings and Trail Blazers, the 6'8" forward averaged 8.0 points and 4.6 rebounds, shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from the field. In 21 games with Portland (all as a starter), Ariza averaged 11.0 points in 33.4 minutes per game. 

While no longer in his prime, Ariza is a nice three-and-D option for the Heat coming off the bench, providing experience, the ability to defend multiple positions and floor-spacing. It's fair to question how much defensive upside he has left at this point in his career, but it's unlikely he'll play major minutes for the Heat, allowing the team to keep him fresh. 

If nothing else, he should be an upgrade over Harkless, who has larger fallen out of the rotation. 

This move perhaps isn't the splash that Heat fans would have wanted, and it doesn't address the team's biggest needs (another star player and center depth). But Ariza is a cheap addition and should carve out a reserve role for Miami.