The Heat own the best defense in the Eastern Conference in terms of points per game, giving up only 96.3 per contest. Some of their success can be attributed to Hassan Whiteside, though the center hasn’t started a game since January 20th. The team is reportedly gauging what the trade market would bear for the 26-year-old.
Here’s more out of Miami:
- The Heat are looking to net a second-round pick in exchange for Jarnell Stokes, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reports. Jackson notes that moving Stokes for a pick would lessen the team’s luxury tax bill this season.
- Miami is keeping an eye on the market for 3-point shooters this trade deadline, which is something that Chris Bosh endorses, Jackson writes in the same piece. “I’m always a believer in making do with what you have, [though] we could always use another shooter. Everybody could,” Bosh said. The Heat are making just 32.3% of their shots from behind the arc this season. “To get in that upper part of the East, it’s tough to do that without shooting,” Bosh added.
- Bosh is taking a cautious approach to his injured calf, Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press writes. “I didn’t feel it was wise to continue to push it, especially with this elongated week that we have off,” said Bosh, who dropped out of tonight’s 3-point contest because of the injury.