It’s bound to happen, here’s why.
Trade Outline:
Portland Receives:
Deandre Ayton
Kyle Lowry
Nikola Jovic
Jaime Jaquez Jr
Jordan Goodwin
2027 MIA frp
2028 MIA frp (swap)
2029 MIA frp
2030 MIA frp (swap)
Phoenix Receives:
Jusuf Nurkic
Buddy Hield
2024 MIL srp
Indiana Receives:
Tyler Herro
Miami Receives:
Damian Lillard
T.J McConnell
Daniel Theis
Ish Wainwright
Why The Indiana Pacers Do This:
Like you all know, Hield is on the move after the Pacers failed to sign an extension with him, so finding a way to get him out is probably in the Pacers best interest. Additionally, the Pacers have veteran pieces like Theis and McConnell that might not find a spot in the rotation this year, so moving on from them can shed bad contracts and open up minutes for younger players.
Why Tyler Herro? Herro has been in trade talks the entire summer, and if he remains on the Heat, I doubt the chemistry would remain the same. Buying on Herro now while the price is low is probably a great move for the Pacers. Herro comes in as a former 6th Man of the Year and a solidified scorer, who’s also been to the finals multiple times. He can step up when needed, and if the Pacers make a playoff push, Herro can carry the load when needed. Herro is also only 24, which fits right into the timeline of the Pacers’ core. Anyways, I think Herro would be a great fit on a team gunning for the playoffs. The Pacers also shed 10 million in cap with this trade, which is also a great move for a small market team.
The Pacers Starting 5:
Tyrese Haliburton
Tyler Herro
Bennedict Mathurin
Jarace Walker
Myles Turner
The Pacers Bench Rotation:
Bruce Brown
Andrew Nembhard
Aaron Neismith
Obi Toppin/Jordan Nwora
Isaiah Jackson/Jalen Smith
Why The Phoenix Suns Do This:
Like Tyler Herro, Ayton has been in and out of trade rumors, and not really been playing to his strengths and potential. For a contending team like Phoenix, trading him might not be the best move on paper, but it’ll help the locker room and add a bit more ferocity to the team. The two vets being added can be consistent role players, and adding a 2024 pick to their collection can help the Suns add youth after next year.
Why Nurkic over Ayton? Jusuf Nurkic, while older than Ayton, can do everything Ayton can without demanding a bigger role. Nurkic isn’t the best inside defender, but he can rebound and be a screen setter for the scorers of the team like Beal, Booker, and Durant. His contract is also half that of Ayton’s, which for the same level of prediction, is perfect for a second apron team like the Suns. Nurkic isn’t an amazing shooter, but compared to Ayton (36% vs 29%), he can run pick and pop plays with the guards of the team.
You know who is an amazing shooter though? Buddy Hield. Hield is one of the best 3pt shooters in the league, and can be a great off the bench scorer for the Suns. He isn’t a terrible defender, and having him in the rotation over 36 year old Eric Gordon is probably better for the Suns. If Hield doesn’t work out, his shooting numbers will always give him value, which the Suns can either trade him later on, or let him walk and get roughly 20 million off the cap next year. Overall, both Hield and Nurkic are solid role players, and are good pick ups for the Suns.
The Suns Starting 5:
Bradley Beal
Devin Booker
Josh Okogie
Kevin Durant
Jusuf Nurkic
The Suns Bench Rotation:
Saben Lee
Buddy Hield
Keita Bates-Diop
Yuta Watanabe
Drew Eubanks/Bol Bol
Overall, the Suns get better with this, and get smaller benefits down the line too.
Why The Portland Trailblazers Do This:
The Blazers aim to trade Lillard before training camp starts. I think the overall package from Miami stays the same, but instead of Herro either becoming a Blazer or going to another team and the Blazers getting two extra picks, Deandre Ayton makes a lot more sense for the Blazers’ timeline and rebuild. Additionally, the other pieces can help the Blazers rebuild too.
How does Deandre Ayton fit with the team? Ayton has been underperforming. There’s no doubt about that. But part of the reason why might be because Ayton isn’t getting the ball enough and he’s putting too much pressure on himself. Sending him to Portland where there’s zero expectations this year, can help develop his game and turn him into an all around big man in 2-3 years. Ayton is also only 25. How good he could be by 28 is debatable, but I personally think it’s an experiment the Blazers should try.
How do the other pieces fit in? Let’s start with Lowry. The Blazers can either use him as a backup point and have him play his contract out, or buy him out and clear up 30 million. Either way, he can be a good mentor to the younger guards of the team, like Scoot, Simons, and Sharpe. Jovic and Goodwin haven’t done much, but from what I’ve seen they can be quality role players in a few years. The upsides to their games are great and can fit in perfectly in a Blazers rebuild, plus they’re only 20 and 24. Jaime Jaquez is a rookie, but he’s been great and he plays to his strengths. He shot 44% from three during summer league, and he can also finish and defend at a decent level. With the right development, Jaquez can be a great piece in future, and I think Portland is perfect for him.
Why would Portland settle for 4 firsts instead of 6-7? Portland isn’t getting more than 5. Let’s be honest. Any leverage with Dame wastes away as they don’t trade him, and no team besides Miami will really go out of their way to trade for an aging and overpaid star. The return they’re getting is still great, and can help them in a rebuild. I also doubt any team would give up that many firsts for Herro. Ayton is a better fit anyways, as that’s what the Blazers have been looking for recently.
The Blazers Starting 5:
Scoot Henderson
Anfernee Simons
Shaedon Sharpe
Jerami Grant
Deandre Ayton
The Blazers Bench Rotation:
Kyle Lowry
Matisse Thybulle
Nassir Little/Jaime Jaquez Jr
Nikola Jovic/Kris Murray
Moses Brown
Overall, I think the return for Dame in this package is the best they’ll get.
Why The Miami Heat Do This:
Well, it’s only a matter of when. Dame to the Heat is only inevitable, and you guys know all the reasons why. Dame is the perfect fit there, he’s an amazing scorer, he can carry the load, and he’s obviously clutch. At the is point, trading for Lillard is probably better for team chemistry than keeping all the pieces that are supposed to be in it anyways, with all the trade rumors. I’d go into detail, but I feel like everything I’d say you guys know already.
What do McConnell, Theis, and Wainwright add? McConell is the perfect backup point guard for the Heat. He doesn’t demand playing time, which allows Dame to play heavy minutes in crucial games. He’s also an amazing defender, who holds Pacers records for steals. Theis probably won’t have a big role, but having him as a Vet who can come in and play defense at the 5 is needed if Bam is having an off night and/or with Thomas Bryant’s inconsistency on defense. Wainwright is also a good defender on the younger side. In the event of a trade or injury, Wainwright can easily fill into the rotation and play his role on any given night. The trio of players can also be moved for a piece(s) for a better fit along the line too. The Heat also keep their 2026 pick, which in most trade scenarios they give up.
The Heat’s Starting 5:
Damian Lillard
Josh Richardson
Jimmy Butler
Caleb Martin
Bam Adebayo
The Heat’s Bench Rotation:
TJ McConnell
Duncan Robinson
Haywood Highsmith
Kevin Love
Thomas Bryant/Daniel Theis
I put a lot of effort into this, so even if you don’t like it, an upvote would be appreciated. But overall, I think this trade works for all 4 sides of it and gets teams what they want and need.