Getty Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.
It’s been two steps forward, and one step back for the Miami Heat. Optimists will point to the Heat’s lack of injury luck, strong numbers when the team is fully healthy and last year’s conference finals run as evidence that things aren’t so dire in South Beach. Pessimists will point to the Heat’s 16-17 record and aging roster as proof that this team is not equipped for a deep run.
Perhaps all that’s missing is a fresh injection of talent. In a trade proposed by Heavy Sports’ Jack Simone, Miami would land that talent in the form of Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green. Here’s how Simone shook out a deal:
Warriors receive: Pascal Siakam, Chris Boucher
Heat receive: Draymond Green, Otto Porter Jr.
Raptors receive: Jonathan Kuminga, James Wiseman, Duncan Robinson, Dewayne Dedmon, Caleb Martin, 2026 first-round pick (via the Warriors), 2027 first-round pick (via the Heat), 2028 first-round pick (via the Warriors), 2027 second-round pick (via the Warriors), 2028 second-round pick (via the Heat), 2029 second-round pick (via the Warriors)
“[T]he Heat would elevate themselves back into title contention with this move, landing a bona fide winner in Green and some much-needed extra depth at the forward position in Porter,” Simone wrote on December 23.
Draymond Green Reportedly Set on Leaving Warriors
Seeing Draymond Green , who has been instrumental in setting the Warriors’ tone during their 13-year dynasty, in any jersey other than that of Golden State would be jarring. But according to Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney, Green very well could find himself on a new team sooner rather than later.
“Pretty strong,” a Western Conference executive said of Green’s chances to leave the Warriors. “If they win a championship again this year, there will be pressure to keep things together, but the stuff with the punch [on Jordan Poole] in the preseason, that probably put the nail in it. There was already a good chance he would go just because his production is not what it was and he is getting older [32]. It would be hard to justify paying him $20-something-million a year.”
Jordan Poole’s hilarious…wait for it 😂
(via @JessieLunchbox)
Green would not bring down the Heat’s average age, but he would bring a championship pedigree (Miami loves those)and they would be able to off of Duncan Robinson’s contract. Would the Raptors love getting Robinson back? No, but that’s why Caleb Martin and the first-round pick are there to sweeten the pot.
And then there are the Warriors, who would net Siakam, who is playing at an All-NBA level so far this season.
That leaves just the Raptors, who are not usually a team keen on long, exhaustive rebuilds.
Raptors Headed for Rebuild?
According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, the sharks are starting to circle the Toronto Raptors.
“Rival teams are hopeful the Raptors will fall off and focus on building a new core around second-year forward Scottie Barnes. The number of teams interested in their players is too long to list,” Pincus wrote last week.
Draymond Green when asked about the possibility of the Warriors being a play-in team: “I feel sorry for whoever the No. 1 or No. 2 seed is… That would suck (for them).”
Barnes, the reigning Rookie of the Year, looks like a shell of his freshman self this season. That’s been a key reason behind Toronto’s struggles, leading to the potential for high “blow-up” factor in Ontario.