The Miami Heat have had an up and down season and with the Memphis Grizzlies now exploring a trade for Luol Deng and Celtics guard Jeff Green, the team may try and make some moves at the deadline, as Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh need support if they are going to make a playoff run the year after LeBron James left for the Cavaliers.
ESPN.com reporter Marc Stein writes that the Grizzlies are looking to add players on the wing to help on offense and they have targeted both Luol Deng and Jeff Green as options. According to ESPN.com, the Grizzlies likely will try to move Tayshaun Prince in any deal and they are looking at either Deng or Green as options at the deadline. The deadline is in mid-February and teams are starting to position themselves for moves and while no deal is imminent, the Grizzlies are a team to watch.
The Grizzlies want more on the wing, as they would like to add offense for Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, who have been playing very well for one of the best teams in the league. Miami is fading a bit in the eastern conference and they could look at offloading Deng or making moves with other teams. Green is a strong option for the Grizzlies, as many expect him to be traded by the Celtics. The Grizzlies are motivated to make at least one move, as they watched as the Mavericks added Rajon Rondo and the Rockets added both Josh Smith and Corey Brewer.
The Heat signed Deng in the offseason to a two year deal worth about $20 million and he was one of the players the team hoped could make up for the loss of James. Deng is versatile on both sides of the court and is a strong defensive presence as well. Deng is averaging 14 points and five rebounds per game this season after signing as a free agent and he could be a strong option for the Grizzlies. Green is playing some of the best ball of his career and is leading the team with 17 points per game, which is a career high.
Miami could be ready to make some moves in the coming weeks, as they are just 15-20 on the season and about to head out west for some tough games. While the east is a weak conference, if the team dips down more in the standings they could look at making trades and building a bit towards next season. Green is likely to get moved at some point, as Pro Basketball Talk reports that he has the chance to become a free agent this summer and like Rajon Rondo, the Celtics will want something for him rather than let him go for nothing.
Stein writes that Prince likely will be involved in any deal, as he is on a contract that is expiring worth over $7 million and the Grizzlies likely want to get rid of that. Memphis is in first place in the southwest division with a 25-10 record and they have been one of the most impressive teams in the league overall this season. The team is ranked 14th in scoring and sixth in points allowed this season.