The Miami Heat have held discussions about acquiring a young star in need of a change of scenery.
The Miami Heat started the season on a fantastic note, but have fallen off track as of late. They've lost four out of their last five games, with the most recent defeat coming against the Sacramento Kings after returning home from a two-game winless road trip against the Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic.
The offense has been stagnant, with inefficient shooting from behind the arc and from the free-throw line. Also, defensively, the team hasn't lived up to the organization's values.
The Heat currently has a 14-10 record, sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. There's been no purposeful motion for panic, but something has to change for things to get on a strong note. Whether it's the lineups or even the roster, there needs to be a shift for them to return to winning ways.
It's been reported that the organization has expressed "internal" interest in Memphis Grizzlies' superstar Ja Morant. The 26-year-old has struggled to find any cohesiveness in his current situation with Tuomas Iisalo as the new head coach. He's missed the previous 10 games due to a right calf strain injury.
The Grizzlies are currently 11-13, sitting ninth in the Western Conference standings. Morant is averaging 17.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 7.6 assists while shooting 35.9 percent from the field, 16.7 percent from three-point range on the season. These are among the worst numbers of his career since he was a rookie.
There have been signs of a divorce approaching, which the Heat could benefit from. This isn't the first time a player has been unhappy, putting up subpar numbers, and afterwards being traded, returning to All-Star form.
Morant could "find his joy again" in South Florida, under the leadership of Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra. Of course, the former lottery pick would require a total buy-in, as no player is above the organization.
While the former Most Improved Player has shown resilience in the past, a different approach is possible with the Heat. Morant would likely respect them more, given all the accomplishments and Hall of Famers to pass by and wear "Miami" across their chests.
Here's what a potential Morant deal could look like:
Heat receive: Ja Morant
Grizzlies receive: Tyler Herro and a 2031 first-round pick (via MIA)
Tyler Herro was in the same draft class as the two-time All-Star, 12 selections apart. He's been with the Heat for seven seasons, and despite coming off a career season, the 25-year-old failed to receive a "firm" contract extension during the summer. There's no denying his offensive talents, but his playoff status is questionable.
Morant is just as good a scorer, more athletic, with lots of untapped potential left in the tank. He's never been known to be a great defender, but the Heat have a way of getting the best out of their players on both sides of the court.
The NBA is two months away from the trade deadline, which is the point when discussions will begin to get spicy.
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