NBA Trade Rumors: 5 destinations for Rudy Gay
By John Buhler
5. Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are probably going to get back into the Eastern Conference Playoffs after missing out on them in the first year post-LeBron James. However, Miami may not get home court advantage in the first round as a top four seed like many believed the Heat could easily get to with their strong starting five.
The problem with the Heat hasn’t been defense, as head coach Erik Spoelstra has his team third in the NBA in points allowed per game at 95.7 and ninth in the NBA in team defensive rating at 103.1 points allowed per 100 possessions.
However, the Heat cannot seem to figure out how to run a decent playoff-caliber offense centered around point guard Goran Dragic. Miami ranks 24th in team offensive rating (103.2), 28th in points per game (95.8), and 29th in pace (92.1).
What Sacramento Kings small forward Rudy Gay could provide the Heat with is a better option at small forward than Luol Deng, who looks also-ran from his days of playing all out for head coach Tom Thibodeau with the Chicago Bulls.
Gay can create his own shot to help take the pressure off Dragic on offense. He won’t do much for the Heat defensively, as Gay has a career average defensive rating of 108, Gay should help pick up the slack for the sub-par Heat offense in the second half. Miami enters Thursday night with a 23-20 record and in seventh place in the improved Eastern Conference.
Next: 4. Boston Celtics