The Miami Heat don't need to do anything before the NBA trade deadline on Thursday, but there are plenty of moves they could make that would make the team better and deals for Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young, Brandon Bass or Pierre Jackson could solidify a third championship run for LeBron James and Norris Cole would likely be the one involved.
Reports heading into the deadline from Marc Stein at ESPN.com said that Miami had been rejecting deals for Cole, as they like what he brings to the team and he has been a solid contributor over the past couple years. Stein writes that the team could change their minds heading into Thursday, but that's very unlikely and anyone that knows the the Heat and knows Pat Riley should realize he isn't going anywhere, as he traded for him in 2011 draft and is considered one of the best "young assets" the team has.
But just because Cole is not moving doesn't mean that the Heat won't try and make a deal, as SI.com proposes that they could package a player and a pick together to get Bass, Young or Turner, but it depends on what the market dictates for those players. The report says that Bass could be an interesting option, but his contract likely won't allow for that move to happen. The Boston Celtics are considered a team likely to move players at the deadline and nearly everyone has been mentioned in trade rumors, including Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley and Jeff Green.
The Miami Heat were thought to be a team that could deal for a swingman like Turner at the deadline as insurance for Dwyane Wade and his knee issues, but that seems like something on the backburner for now. Turner should get some attention from other teams, as he is averaging close to 20 points per game and has been solid while playing under the threat of a trade all season. Turner is set to be a free agent this coming offseason and that could work in the Heat's favor, as teams may not be willing to give up high picks for a player they could sign in a few months, making the price go down and into the Miami range.
Young or Bass would add size to the team and they will need it heading into the playoffs, as the Indiana Pacers have been the better team in the west and added Luis Scola in the offseason and Andrew Bynum this season and any playoff matchup will be tough this time around. Cole is the best trading chip for Miami, but the way he is playing it's likely he goes nowhere. This season he has started six games and has played in 51, but the real key is the fact that he is playing in a career high amount of minutes at nearly 26 per game and that could be why the team is unwilling to trade him.
Cole is averaging 7.6 points and 2.3 assists this season and he could be looked at as the insurance for Wade. Miami is second in the east and looking to close in on the Pacers for the number one spot and on Thursday they have another tough game with the Thunder and Kevin Durant and LeBron James and company will try and snag this win after the last time the two faced off.
