The Miami Heat could go after two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo during free agency this summer
The Miami Heat just completed another year in purgatory.
They were in the Play-In Tournament yet again, this time falling to the Charlotte Hornets and missing the playoffs. The Heat fan base is unhappy with the franchise's willingness to "run it back" each season with the same players.
Now, at least one NBA Insider is calling for team president Pat Riley to make a chance. Speaking on his podcast, Zach Lowe said the time is now for Riley to pull the trigger on overhauling the roster and grabbing a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo.
"I just wonder if this is the year Pat Riley is like, `We're just doing it guys. We're throwing everything we can at Giannis or whoever. I don't really care. I'm tired of being mediocre and at least Giannis makes us interesting."'
The Heat have plenty valuable trade pieces on a roster that includes Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell, Kel'el Ware, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Davion Mitchell, Kasparas Jakucionis and Nikola Jovic.
Lowe went far as breaking down a potential trade for Antetokounmpo, the two-time MVP who plans to leave the Milwaukee Bucks this summer during free agency. It would take some tinkering from Heat general manager Andy Elisburg but it is possible they could package a deal this summer.
"The question I would have for the," Lowe said. "Let's just say they trade Herro, Ware, maybe they have to put in Jaquz, maybe not, all the picks, all the swaps for Giannis. And then they use Bird Rights to keep Powell. So I've got Wiggins, Powell, Bam, Davion Mitchell, Giannis, Jakucionis, Jovic ... That's a pretty good team."
Losing Herro, Ware and even Jaquez would be tough because all three players have shown tremendous upsides. Herro was an All-Star last year. Jaquez is in the running for Sixth Man of the Year. Ware is one of the league's top rising talents.
Still, at some point the Heat need to make acquisition in the offseason just like they did with LeBron James and Chris Bosh in the summer of 2010. This could be another chance for Riley to pull it off.
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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of HeatRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com