If the Miami Heat is going to have a realistic opportunity to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, they're going to need to find a way to add an additional first-round pick or two. That's the clearest pathway that the Heat has to pulling off the blockbuster move. The good news for the Heat is that they may have the exact player they'll need to pull off such a move before putting their best Giannis trade offer on the table.
"We're not playing hard," Antetokounmpo said. "We aren't doing the right thing. We're not playing to win. We're not playing together. Our chemistry's not there. Guys are being selfish, trying to look for their own shots instead of looking for the right shot for the team. Guys trying to do it on their own. "At times, I feel like when we're down 10, down 15, down 20, we try to make it up in one play, and it's not going to work."
With less than a month before the February 5 NBA Trade Deadline, Rozier's expiring contract could emerge as a big asset for the Heat in trade discussions, especially as the Ja Morant whispers continue to grow. It's not a forgone conclusion that the Heat are going to trade Rozier before the trade deadline, but it's a pretty good bet that if Miami makes any type of move, it's almost certainly going to include the troubled guard.
The Miami Heat didn't extend Tyler Herro before the season started, which was enough to make his future in South Florida an even bigger topic of discussion. Most fans aren't actively pushing for the front office to trade Herro before the Feb. 5 deadline, but if it were for the right star, they'd be willing to bid Herro goodbye. There are still over five weeks until the deadline, and questions remain about who that star could be.