NBA trade rumors: 5 trade destinations for Greg Monroe
By John Buhler
East. Southeast. Miami Heat. 5. player. 110.
The Miami Heat enter 2016 NBA free agency with both optimism and uncertainty. Miami is a marquee free agency destination and maybe the only team in the Eastern Conference capable of prying Kevin Durant away from Oklahoma City. The Heat have two exciting young players in Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson, a brilliant front office, a solid head coach in Erik Spoelstra, and a good point guard in Goran Dragic.
That being said, star stretch five Chris Bosh might have to retire after experiencing season-ending blood clots in back-to-back seasons. Miami also has three key players hitting 2016 NBA free agency in a few weeks: shooting guard Dwyane Wade, small forward Luol Deng, and center Hassan Whiteside.
Yes, Wade will re-up, but there is a chance that Bosh, Deng, and Whiteside aren’t playing on the 2016-17 Heat. Even with Dragic, Wade, Winslow, and Richardson, would Durant make any difference to a Heat team with no front court whatsoever?
What Miami could do is make a trade with Milwaukee to acquire Monroe to sure up a depleted front court. A sign-and-trade with to-be free agent Whiteside is a possibility. Perhaps Miami would have to part ways with either Winslow or Richardson and a future first round pick to get a great low post player in Monroe.
To win the East, Miami will have to be strong in the front court. Monroe could fit in quite nicely in Spoelstra’s system and would be a more well-rounded big man than Whiteside was. Miami doesn’t have a ton of trade assets, but could take on Monroe’s contract and skill set easily.
Next: 4. Atlanta Hawks.