Examining Heat Trade Idea To Acquire Ja Morant And Form A Superteam
The Miami Heat were a significantly different team from last season. After acquiring Norman Powell this summer, Miami offloaded a significant number of veterans and older players, effectively shifting the team's timeline.
While this would typically indicate a rebuild, the Heat seem to have gotten better. Led by the young star duo of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, Miami is poised to be a dark horse in the East with one of the youngest rosters in the league.
Although Miami boasts a solid roster, the team may not have enough firepower to be considered a title contender in the East. However, a trade proposal presented by Sports Illustrated's Ethen Hutton allows the Heat to transform into a powerhouse by acquiring Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies. Here's the trade scenario:
Proposed Trade Details
Miami Heat Receive: Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., 2027 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick
Why Should Miami Acquire Morant?
Acquiring Morant would effectively signal a new era for the Miami Heat. With a generational talent joining the side, the Heat would become a new superpower in the East, capable of going toe-to-toe with the best in the league.
As constructed, the Heat are in possession of talented players. When considering their starting backcourt, with Herro and Powell, Miami already possesses impressive offensive firepower.
Injecting Morant into this rotation would require Powell to move to the small forward position, but it would do wonders for the Heat's overall scoring production.
Morant has shown all the makings of a superstar. Aside from his elite athletic ability and scoring prowess, Morant is known for his showmanship and his ability to perform in clutch situations. These traits resonate with Herro's game, creating the potential for the two to be one of the most exciting backcourt duos in the league.
Last season, Morant averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game, while shooting 45.4% from the field and 30.9% from three-point range.
When assessing the 26-year-old's play style, he has shown a preference for attacking the basket. While he is ball-dominant, like Herro, he is also more of a threat going downhill. These skills complement Herro's, considering that he is capable of attacking as a reliable perimeter threat.
Several factors suggest that acquiring Morant would be in Miami's best interests. When additionally factoring in his age, the Heat would only fortify their core. Given the weakened state of the East next season, Miami could even make a run at the title by making this trade without compromising its timeline.
There could be some concerns regarding his off-court antics and controversies, but under a coach like Erik Spoelstra and a president like Pat Riley, the two-time All-Star is unlikely to have the same latitude.
Additionally, concerns about the star's health will also be valid. Although he appeared in 50 games last season, Morant has been known to sustain several injuries over the course of the season. Managing this would become a priority for Miami should they consider acquiring him.
What Do The Grizzlies Gain?
The Memphis Grizzlies have already shown that they have partially committed to a rebuild this offseason. By trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic, the Grizzlies have effectively broken up their main core. Although they shut down trade rumors of any further activity, it doesn't guarantee that the Grizzlies won't commit to a rebuild eventually.
In the current scenario, the Grizzlies' star duo of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. hasn't been able to deliver postseason success. With Jackson Jr.'s recent contract extension, Memphis has committed to the former DPOY. Thus, structuring the rebuild around him could prove to be wiser.
On this note, Hutton's proposal with the Heat sends some solid pieces over to the Grizzlies. With two first-round draft picks (2027 and 2031), Andrew Wiggins, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Nikola Jovic, Memphis would have all the necessary assets to properly structure a rebuild while staying competitive.
Wiggins, who is on an expiring contract, has shown a lot of upside as a gifted two-way player. While anchoring Memphis' perimeter defense, the 30-year-old has also been a reliable scoring and rebounding presence.
Last season, Wiggins recorded an average of 18.0 points and 4.5 rebounds, while shooting 44.8% overall and 37.4% from three-point range. When asked to play a more significant role on offense, the forward notched a slight uptick in scoring production, showing potential to be a viable scoring threat next to Jackson Jr. in Memphis.
Additionally, acquiring developmental pieces such as Jovic and Jaquez Jr. could also prove to be valuable. Both of them are on the verge of breakout years, with Jovic's performance at EuroBasket being of particular intrigue.
Both players have shown a lot of upside as scoring assets. Last season, Jovic averaged 10.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game on 45.6% shooting overall and 37.1% shooting from three-point range. Meanwhile, Jaquez showed promise even with reduced output, as he averaged 8.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game on 46.1% shooting from the field.
Should they receive more playing time with more responsibilities, both players possess the skill and talent to emerge as significant contributors. On a rebuilding team, assets like these could develop into key players on the roster.
Miami May Hesitate To Part With Young Talent
Even with all the benefits that could be gained from doing this deal, the Heat may be hesitant to part ways with the young talent on their roster. While there has been trade talk involving Andrew Wiggins all summer, Miami has maintained a strong stance on retaining both Jaquez Jr. and Jovic for the foreseeable future.
Jaquez Jr. is primed to see a resurgence in form this upcoming season. Meanwhile, the Heat coaching staff has been immensely invested in the performances of their European players, even attending their games at EuroBasket.
Given Jovic's growth, there are possible scenarios in which the Serbian forward could even be a part of the team's starting lineup. With this kind of investment, the Heat are unlikely to part ways with these players at the moment.
Be Grateful Philly: Jalen Hurts Is Everything Caleb Williams Is Not, A Coach Killer
The Chicago Bears thought they drafted a savior. What they got instead, according to 30 former coaches who spoke to Ty Dunne of Go Long, was dysfunction wrapped in Gucci. In House of Dysfunction, a three part series, Dunne writes that Caleb Williams, the Bears No. 1 overall pick, quickly became the poster boy for everything wrong in the NIL and transfer portal era – entitled, coddled, and unprepared for the NFL crucible.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts represents the exact opposite: accountability, leadership, discipline, and championship DNA. If you bleed green, now’s the time to recognize just how lucky you are.
The Poster Boy for NIL’s Dark Side
In Dunne’s reporting, one coach didn’t mince words:
“This coach dubs Williams the poster boy for everything wrong in today’s NIL world.” (Go Long)
Another added:
“Coaches know if they criticize one of their 5-stars or, God forbid, bench him they run the risk of that 5-star transferring. In the NFL, there is no escape hatch. No cakewalk games. Hardship is a guarantee.” (Go Long)
The Bears discovered quickly that their hand-picked franchise quarterback had never been forced to fight through adversity, until it was too late.
Work Ethic?
The indictments piled up behind closed doors. According to Go Long, Williams rarely turned on the team-issued tablets, something the Bears could track. He skipped optional but vital pass-protection meetings with centers. He blew off lifting sessions. He was given weekly blitz tapes spliced by O-line coach Chris Morgan and QB coach Kerry Joseph – seven hours of prep work and didn’t watch them.
Instead? Word leaked that Williams was spending his downtime on Call of Duty marathons.
One coach summed it up:
“There are grown-man responsibilities. You expect him to put the work in… If you can’t sacrifice? There’s no substitute for the work. That’s something he needs to learn.” (Go Long)
We Talkin’ About Practice?
Apparently Williams’ contribution to practices made Allen Iverson look like Tom Brady back in the PCOM days. Preparation failures bled into the field. Dunne reports that on the night before Chicago’s rematch with Detroit, Williams botched four of the first eight play calls in a simple hotel walkthrough – wrong formations, missed motions, busted shifts.
Fridays, which around the NFL are pristine dress rehearsals, were instead described as:
“the worst Friday practices in the history of the NFL every Friday.” (Go Long)
By Saturday, as the offense reviewed call sheets, coaches noticed Williams wasn’t even locked in – head down, distracted.
And on game days? Coaches said Williams struggled just to spit out plays. Dunne writes that offensive coordinator Shane Waldron would send plays in early, but Williams would stand in the huddle staring at his wristband for five or six extra seconds, making teammates think the OC was dragging. It created division and finger-pointing inside the locker room.
Backyard Football Gone Wrong
Even Williams’ highlight plays raised red flags.
“You’re making miraculous plays,” one coach told Dunne, “but it’s unnecessary because you skipped three reads and had to spin around in a circle twice and juke some cat who you’re better than and you made a miraculous throw. That’s phenomenal. But in this league more times than not you’re going to get body-slammed. You’re not going to juke that dude who plays defensive end. He’s bigger, faster, stronger than you and doesn’t care about you being Caleb Williams.” (Go Long)
Eventually, the Bears had to dumb down the offense with limited audibles, fewer motions, and basic formations because, as one coach told Dunne:
“Caleb didn’t want to do it. Or couldn’t do it.” (Go Long)
Entitlement, Image, and the Cover-up
Williams’ orbit told its own story. Go Long revealed that Chicago not only drafted Williams, but also gave his best friend John Jackson III, a walk-on wideout at USC with five career catches, a practice squad spot. How’d that happen? One coach sneered:
“That’s a good question for John Jackson The Third.” (Go Long)
All while Williams leaned into celebrity:
“Williams walks down fashion runways, attends Louis Vuitton shows and poses in a slew of different outfits for an Esquire photoshoot. He paints his nails. He was voted GQ’s most stylish athlete.” (Go Long)
Winning makes eccentricities charming. Losing turns them toxic. One Bears coach warned Dunne:
“Lose games, and… this fashionista side could become a point of contention and distraction.” (Go Long)
Coach Killer
Perhaps the sharpest indictment came late in the season, when interim coach Thomas Brown tried to hold Williams accountable. While the national narrative was that Williams was “overcoming” bad coaching, insiders told Dunne the opposite.
One offensive assistant said flatly:
“He’s always blaming everybody …this dude’s a coach killer man. I know how he treated other people, and that’s what makes me sick.” (Go Long)
