There’s been wide speculation that if the Miami Heat misses out on some of the bigger names this offseason (i.e., Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo), the team could pivot toward a player like DeMar DeRozan. He’s a player the Heat have flirted with in the past, and one who could be on the trade block for the Sacramento Kings heading into the offseason. However, I’d argue that the Heat should look to an old foe, the Boston Celtics, if they’re truly looking for a plan B option worth pursuing.
As the Celtics explore their offseason questions and prepare for what many believe will be a gap year for the franchise, the Heat could look to a player like Jrue Holiday as a potential stopgap of their own. If the Celtics are generally exploring the option of trading Holiday this summer, the Heat should 100%, at the very least, make a phone call to explore what a possible deal could look like between the two teams
Jrue Holiday is the best-fitting plan B for Miami
Looking across the league, Holiday might quite possibly be the best-fitting plan B for the Heat. He’s certainly a player who makes a lot more sense than DeRozan. The three years, $105 million that are remaining on his contract are not something the Heat would probably be excited about, but if Miami does feel they could make a run in the East in the next couple of seasons, and they do strike out on one of the big names, why not Holiday?
The asking price from the Celtics wouldn’t be high, especially considering their priority this offseason is to cut salary. If the Heat could add Holiday while also keeping their first-round pick flexibility moving forward, this is a move that would certainly be received well by the fan base
There are so many arguments against a move for DeRozan. There’s no evidence he’s been a winning player over the last few years of his career; he’s notoriously struggled in the postseason, and his game has not aged that well in the 3-point golden era of the league. The opposite could be said about Holiday. Even though he’s not the defensive force he was a few years ago, he’s still a net-positive player on that end of the floor, and his fit next to Tyler Herro could help shift some of Miami’s defensive woes away from their young star.
Holiday not only fits what the Heat needs at the point guard position, but he’s also a player who’s going to help take significant pressure off Herro and Bam Adebayo’s shoulders. As a veteran two-way player with championship experience, it’d be hard to completely argue against this move for Miami
If there’s one thing the Heat can learn from both the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder, who are battling it out in the NBA Finals, it’s that depth and fit matter. Right now, Miami is not a team that organically fits perfectly. Adding DeRozan this offseason would only further add to those complications. Holiday, on the other hand, is one glue-type player that could make everything work and fit better.
If the Heat does truly explore a plan B this summer, the smart and responsible play should be for Holiday and not a complicated fit like DeRozan
