Podcast: Never underestimate Pat Riley — a Miami Heat trade-deadline recap show
This is the last time we doubt Pat Riley.
The Miami Heat surprised us once again and made creative moves at the trade deadline, but were all its decisions the right ones? This is the debate which kicks off the latest episode of the Heat Check podcast. Anthony Chiang, the Miami Herald’s Heat beat writer, walks through all the reasons Miami’s decision to ship Justise Winslow to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Andre Iguodala makes sense, and David Wilson plays devil’s advocate for the six-player deal.
There are six players involved in the deal — Winslow and fellow forwards James Johnson and Dion Waiters are going from the Heat to the Grizzlies, and Iguodala and fellow forwards Solomon Hill and Jae Crowder are going from Memphis to Miami — but, at least for this season, this trade is mostly about two of them. The Heat is sending away a promising young — but injured — asset to bring in a wily veteran to help fix some of its defensive issues. The devil’s advocate’s question: Did Miami sell too low on Winslow?
This deal is about more than just this season, though, and Chiang breaks down the long-term implications. A priority for the Heat has always been to have plenty of cap space for the summer of 2021. Now Miami has plenty of cap space for this coming offseason, too. The Heat will be able to shoot its shot for Los Angeles Lakers superstar post player Anthony Davis, give a one-year deal to guard Goran Dragic and sign high-flying forward Derrick Jones Jr. to a multiyear extension. Riley is always playing chess, and these moves were the president at his best.
Speaking of Jones, we wrap up by talking about his impressive performance in Miami’s 128-111 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Really, it wound up being an impressive night all around despite the blowout loss because of how the Heat competed without All-Star wing Jimmy Butler, who went down with a shoulder injury in the third quarter.
Now Miami is getting some reinforcements just in time for the Heat’s usual second-half surge.
