San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat Working On Major Trade?
Are the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat working on a major trade?
Miami has quickly emerged as one of the best stories in the NBA this year.
Everyone expected the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers to battle it out at the top of the Eastern Conference.
The Heat decided to throw a wrench into those plans.
Behind excellent coaching from Erik Spoelstra and strong play from Jimmy Butler, Miami is currently the second-best team in the East behind Milwaukee.
With a conference championship suddenly viewed as a very realistic possibility, the Heat are looking for ways to upgrade the roster.
One potential trade partner? The Spurs.
According to Miami Herald writer Barry Jackson, San Antonio views Miami as a possible way to ship off DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Adridge.
“A source in contact with the Spurs said San Antonio hasn’t decided what to do regarding LaMarcus Aldridge and Demar DeRozan but that it views the Heat as a potential trade partner if it decides to make a move with either one,” the report notes.
Jackson also reports that “Pat Riley previously pursued both players when they were free agents and both have deals with only one more full season.”
With the NBA trade deadline just around the corner on February 6, most expect Miami to be aggressive in improving the team.
So far this year Aldridge is averaging nearly 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game. A career 31 percent shooter from the three-point line, he has somehow made a Blake Griffin-esque transformation and is now shooting 44 percent from behind the arc.
DeRozan, meanwhile, is averaging 22.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per outing.
While a deal between the Heat and Spurs is not currently imminent, conversations have taken place and will continue to take place between these organizations.
As such, don’t be shocked to see a deal for either Aldridge and DeRozan or one of them individually to happen at some point between now and the start of February.
Related: Bradley Beal Wants Trade From Wizards To Lakers?
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
