KEY POINTS

  • Trevor Ariza is expected to beef up the Miami Heat roster heading into the NBA postseason
  • Meyers Leonard will end up in free agency with the OKC Thunder planning to waive him
  • The Heat could be adding more players as they gear for the NBA playoffs

The Miami Heat were bound to make a move at some point, and it appears that time has come.

Trevor Ariza, a veteran name that several teams were eyeing, is headed to South Beach in a move that should toughen up their NBA playoff drive.

In exchange, the Heat sent Meyers Leonard and a 2027 second-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

However, it appears the Thunder have no plans to keep Leonard, someone embroiled in a controversial anti-Semitic remark recently that resulted in him being suspended.

It was a good deal for the Heat with Leonard out for the remainder of the season after undergoing season-ending surgery for his shoulder. Getting Ariza made a lot of sense for the franchise. But the key thing to watch here is the masterful shedding of salary by the team organization.

Ariza’s arrival scrapes off some salary numbers in the Miami payroll. Hence, team president Pat Riley may have other plans in mind with big names still available in the free-agent market.

One name that comes to mind is LaMarcus Aldridge, the New York Times reported.

Aldridge and the San Antonio Spurs agreed to mutually part ways at the end of the current NBA season, raising speculation that a trade could be forthcoming.

Several teams are interested in the veteran big man even if his numbers have taken a big dip from his prime years.

Aside from Aldridge, other names to watch include Victor Oladipo and Andre Drummond. The NBA trade deadline is on March 25, but the Heat may follow the lead of other teams and wait for that to lapse.

A reason behind this is possible buyouts on players like Drummond or even Oladipo if no take comes forward in the coming week.

Trevor Ariza #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers
Trevor Ariza #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers Getty Images | Kevork Djansezian

But for now, the key is fitting in Ariza who has not played a single game for the Thunder since coming over from the Portland Trail Blazers.

Last season, the swingman played in 21 games, averaging 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 33.4 minutes of action.

It will be interesting if Ariza is in shape given that he has not played a single minute this 2020-21 season. There is still time for him to get back into the groove as Miami braces for another NBA postseason run.

RELATED STORIES
NBA