The Miami Heat have been struggling over the past month while dealing with injuries and that could spark the team to make trades at the deadline. Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside have been dealing with injuries and the team may consider making deals with Luol Deng or Chris Andersen as the trading deadline gets closer.
Miami started off the season as one of the top teams in the east, but some tough play over the past few weeks has pushed the team down in the standings. Miami has gone 3-7 over the last 10 games and the team now is at the seventh spot in the east standings. Goran Dragic has been out with a calf injury and has not yet been able to return, while Dwyane Wade did not play against the Wizards on Wednesday while dealing with a sore shoulder.
Wade and Dragic are not the only players dealing with injuries, as Miami saw Hassan Whiteside leave the game against the Wizards with an injury. According to ESPN.com, Whiteside was injured in the second quarter and left the game with a strained left oblique. Luol Deng was also injured in the game after being poked in the right eye towards the end of the fourth quarter. Whiteside has already been dealing with knee soreness this season and head coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game that Whiteside will be re-evaluated heading into the weekend.
Wade sat out for the second time in the last four games with the shoulder issue and ESPN reports that Wade said that his shoulder is "very inflamed right now." Wade said that it's a "day-to-day process" and that he will try and get back on the court for Miami as soon as he can. Wade is averaging 18 points per game this season. Dragic has been out with a calf strain and he is questionable for the Heat on Friday against the Raptors.
Chris Andersen has been mentioned in trade rumors since the summer and he could be a target for the Miami Heat at the deadline. According to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel, the Heat could consider moving Luol Deng at the deadline, as he has an expiring contract and the team needs help on offense with the injuries continuing to pile up. Whiteside has been mentioned in trade rumors with the center heading to free agency, but Miami is unlikely to make a move with Whiteside, as they would like to try and re-sign him.
Barry Jackson at the Miami Herald reports that Miami has "reached out" to Tony Wroten and Dorell Wright as potential additions for this season. Jackson writes that "other teams" have interest in Wright, while Wroten has been mentioned as a target for the Knicks.
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