The Miami Heat look like they are a playoff team, and they certainly have a talented enough roster to make some noise when the playoffs come around. Having said that, the Heat have one glaring issue, and that is three-point shooting, as they rank 28th in the NBA in that stat. The Heat organization is aware of this problem, and they are trying hard to solve it. The trade market may be the best way for the Heat to solve the problem and one of the players they have interest in is Omri Casspi, according to Ethan J. Skolnick of the Miami Herald.
Casspi is currently playing for the Sacramento Kings who are on the fringe of being in playoff contention (4.5 games back of the eighth spot). The fact that the Kings are somewhat close to the playoffs may mean that they want to hang o to their players and go for it, but the Heat have at least entertained the idea of making an offer.
Making a trade won't be easy for Miami because they don't have many assets and they also are not very willing to increase their tax bill. The only way Miami would be able to make a trade would likely be by trading a player that has some sort of value. The Kings reportedly have expressed interest in Tyler Johnson, who is out for the year, so that kind of deal might make sense for the Heat. The Heat like Johnson and see him as a solid piece moving forward, but if they want to go for it this year they can use him to fill their one glaring hole.
Adding Casspi would certainly be a nice addition for the Heat, as he is having a very nice season for Sacramento and he has been one of the best shooters in the NBA. In 48 games, the 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 12.1 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 49 percent from the field and 42 percent from three. Casspi's three-point percentage is the 11th best in the NBA among players who have attempted at least 100, and he would have the most makes (89) of anyone on the Heat.
Casspi is 27 years old and is on a very cheap contract (two years $6 million) that just started this season, so if the Heat decided to trade Johnson for him it's not like it would be a rental. This has been Casspi's best season in the NBA, and if the Heat think they have a legitimate shot at winning the East trading for Casspi might be the move to make. Nothing is imminent with this deal, according to Topher of The Ticket Miami, but the Heat are clearly very serious about adding a shooter.
