The Miami Heat reportedly would be open to trade Luol Deng, for the right offer. Heat president Pat Riley reportedly is also interested in Andray Blatche, who's having a big season playing overseas in China.
Deng has been a steady contributor this season for Miami, and he shined on both ends of the court Christmas Day against Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James. If the right offer came along, Riley reportedly wouldn't be opposed to shipping out Deng for an asset to use in the future.
"The HEAT have been active... I was told Luol Deng could be had... that's one to watch," Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders wrote Monday.
In need of a big, Riley also reportedly is eying Blatche.
"Heard while in Miami: Heat have Andray Blatche in their sights after Josh Smith wound up choosing Houston to team up with pal Dwight Howard," ESPN's Marc Stein tweeted Saturday. "... Trouble there, of course, is that Blatche will be with his team in China through at least February. Heat need a big sooner than later."
Kyler weighed in on the Blatche rumor and indicated it seemed unlikely to happen.
"I wouldn't put too much stock in Andray Blatche coming to Miami. I think he'll get offers, but everyone kills it in China that plays - those are massively padded stats," Kyler wrote. "As for the (Designated Player Exception that Miami has from Josh McRobert's season-ending injury) - it's not worth much that matters. They could use it on a free agent, but not sure there is anyone worth having they could trade for it with."
The DPE is worth just under $3 million.
Blatche played last season for the Brooklyn Nets, averaging 11.2 points and 5.3 rebounds before becoming an unrestricted free agent in July.
