The Miami Heat have had a great 2021-22 NBA season thus far. Despite missing key players in Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler for chunks of the season, they are chugging right along as the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference.
What they have been able to accomplish given the adversity they have faced has been impressive. Head coach Erik Spoelstra deserves a lot of credit for what the team has achieved thus far, but there is plenty of work left to do.
The Heat have championship aspirations and know being in first place in January doesn’t mean much if they aren’t there in April, May, and June. Despite the team’s success, they are always looking for ways to upgrade the roster. With the trade deadline just a few weeks away, they are actively making calls to see what is available.
Miami doesn’t have many assets to move. They have virtually zero draft capital and KZ Okpala and possibly Duncan Robinson is the most tradable assets they possess. But, that isn’t stopping them from seeing what is available.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Rockets Suspend Christian Wood, Kevin Porter Jr. — Full Details
One player to keep an eye on when it comes to the Heat is Christian Wood. The Houston Rockets’ big man could be on the move in the coming weeks as the Rockets are in the early stages of a rebuild and could look to capitalize on his value in a trade.
According to The Athletic, Miami has been persistently showing an interest in acquiring the former UNLV product.
The same can be said of starting center Christian Wood. The 26-year-old has been subject to interest around the league, and sources say Miami has been one of the more persistent teams in engaging with Houston on the versatile big man.
If Wood is made available, it is hard to imagine the Miami Heat being where he lands. They cannot build as competitive of a trade package as other teams can given their lack of draft picks and intriguing players. Unless someone like Tyler Herro or Adebayo was made available, which is extremely unlikely, other teams can outbid Miami.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Rockets Suspend Christian Wood, Kevin Porter Jr. — Full Details
Wood’s stats are down this season with the Houston Rockets compared to 2020-21, but he would still be a difference-maker for a team looking to upgrade for the stretch run and postseason. A down November has dragged down his statistics, but he has picked things up in December and January.
He is back to his efficient, two-way performance at the new year, averaging 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists with 13 steals and nine blocks in 10 games. Wood is making 51.2 percent of his shots overall and 42 percent from 3-point range in January as well.
