Miami Heat Rumors: Is Dwyane Wade on the Decline? Possible Trade Proposals For The Heat Shooting Guard

With trade talk swirling around the league and the All-Star break looming in the distance, you get the feeling that some changes are about to be made. Teams are scrambling to make offers as the trade deadline approaches, and negotiations are in the works as we speak. Non-contenders will be dumping players and clearing cap space in an attempt to salvage what’s left of a lost season, while contenders will be looking to add to their stacked rosters in an effort to fine tune their lineups for a playoff push.

The major focus of this trade season will fall upon players like Dwyane Wade, Rudy Gay, and Andre Bargnani as their teams look for a way to deal their aging stars while they can. Doing this in the hopes that they can aquireg something of equal value in return. Owners and general managers are constantly finding ways to prolong their team’s success; it’s not easy but it’s something that they can never stop thinking about. How else would teams like the Lakers and Heat manage to sustain such a high status within the league? It’s because these teams aren’t afraid to make the blockbuster moves that ultimately decide the fate of their team for years to come.

With the trade deadline approaching I can’t help but wonder what the Miami Heat are going to do with their aging superstar Dwyane Wade, and has his time in Miami finally come to an end?

Many people like to argue on this particular topic and it seems that everyone has their own opinion. With that in mind let us take a look at some potential trade ideas for the Miami Heat:

Monta Ellis:

Milwaukee Bucks combo guard Monta Ellis could be a player targeted by the Miami Heat. While not a traditional point guard, Ellis has the legs to run the Heat’s fast break offense while providing just enough playmaking ability to give Miami a guard that can flourish alongside LeBron. This move makes sense for the Bucks as well, as they boast one of the smallest starting backcourts in the league. Wade may still have what it takes to be a superstar for the Bucks, and his presence in the lineup would provide ample size and a strong perimeter defender alongside Brandon Jennings. It’s a simple trade that realistically can happen, but probably won’t.

Marcin Gortat

Phoenix Suns center Marcin Gortat is the type of guy the Miami Heat would love to have roaming the paint. While Gortat is no star, he does provide respectable rebounding and scoring for his position.  Miami has lacked a true center since Shaquille O’Neal, so Gortat would be a welcoming site in Miami. Dwyane Wade would also fit nicely in Phoenix, a team that is in desperate need for a superstar. The Suns have enough roll playing guards (Jared Dudley/Shannon Brown) to throw in along with Gortat to make it a fair trade, and the Heat could certainly use a strong shooter like Dudley to fill in at the two spot.

Klay Thompson/Andrew Bogut

Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson is another interesting player the Heat could take a look at. Thompson is coming off a career high 32 point game against Cleveland, so his trade value is higher than it should be at the moment. He’s never going to be a superstar in the league, but Thompson is young and has above average size at his position.  It’s hard to see the Warriors part ways with their young stud, but with Andrew Bogut back in the lineup, the addition of D-Wade could be just enough to give Golden State a strong chance at making a championship run this season. Miami would prefer Andrew Bogut given thier needs at center, but the Warriors seem content holding on to thier big man for the time being. 

Jose Calderon/Amir Johnson/Future Draft Pick

This is a trade that is highly unlikely to happen but we’ll examine it anyway. This is a move that would do wonders for both teams for different reasons. After trading for Kyle Lowry in the offseason, it makes little sense that the Raptors starting point guard is still Jose Calderon. While Calderon has the ability to effectively run the offense, losing him would do little to no harm for Toronto in the long run. Likewise, Calderon would make a great fit for a Miami Heat team that is lacking a true playmaker at the point. Amir Johnson would also provide the Heat with a strong rebounder inside, something they have struggled with this season. This move would hardly damage Toronto’s frontcourt since Andre Bargnani is set to return sometime around the All-Star break. Throw in one of Toronto’s 2014 draft picks and I can’t see why Miami would turn down this trade.

Stay in Miami

That old saying “don’t fix it if it aint broke” comes to mind when I think of the Heat’s potential interest in trading Wade. While many say D-Wade is a player on the decline, I tend to disagree. Wade may not have the same numbers he did in his first 5 seasons with the Heat but he remains an irreplaceable presence in Miami’s lineup. Wade has managed to average a very respectable stat line even with LeBron James chewing into his numbers. His 20.6 points per game is good for the 3rd most among active shooting guards, while contributing 4.6 boards and 4.6 assist per game to boot. He may not be getting younger, but Wade is still a superstar with plenty of game left in the bag. As a key component in Miami’s last two title runs, I find it hard to imagine Wade prematurely leaving the team that drafted him out of Marquette. The Heat will have a hard time replacing Wade  even if he’s traded, and the chances of getting a fair value in return are slim. The best case scenario for both parties is for Wade to stay put.