Exploring potential Heat trade fits among Eastern Conference teams. Part 3 of a series

NBA trades become easier last Friday, when 82 players signed over the summer became available to be dealt. That group included Heat players Josh Richardson, Thomas Bryant and Orlando Robinson.

Nevertheless, December and early January NBA trades are rare, and if the Heat eventually makes a move, it’s a lot more likely to happen close to the Feb. 8 trade deadline.

In part 1 of this series, we explored factors for the Heat to consider with potential trades.

In part 2, we explored potential trade fits among Western Conference teams.

Today, we examine potential Eastern Conference trade partners:

▪ Chicago: The Heat has shown no interest in Zach LaVine, and I wouldn’t expect that to change.

And even though Alex Caruso would be a helpful addition, Chicago has “shut down” trade calls for him, according to The Athletic.

Any inclusion of a first-round pick for Caruso would be foolhardy because it would leave Miami at a deficit in any bidding war for the next All Star that asks for a trade.

The Bulls might be able to get a first-round pick from someone for Caruso because of what reportedly will be healthy interest in the league. His $9.9 million salary next season is partially guaranteed.

According to The Athletic, DeMar DeRozan -- whose $28.6 million expiring deal is likely will be dangled -- would have interest in being dealt to Miami. Chicago’s talks with DeRozan about a contract extension reportedly have gone nowhere.

But a Kyle Lowry-and-a-draft pick package for DeRozan wouldn’t necessarily be a no-brainer because while DeRozan is an excellent mid-range shooter, he isn’t traditionally a three-point shooting floor spacer. And the Heat would have no natural point guard left on the roster. Also, DeRozan likely would be expecting a sizable new contract.

A package of DeRozan and Caruso for Lowry, Nikola Jovic and Thomas Bryant would work within the cap, but the question again is DeRozan’s fit on a team whose two best players (Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler) aren’t big three-point shooters (though Butler has improved in that regard).

▪ Cleveland: This is one of only a couple teams on this list with a potentially at-some-point-available whale, if Donovan Mitchell bypasses signing an extension and asks out. Mitchell made clear this week that he’s not going to discuss the matter publicly, at least at this point.

He’s due $33.2 million this season and $35.4 million in 2024-25, then can opt out in July 2025.

But this is likely a July 2024 decision for Cleveland, barring a surprising trade request from Mitchell before the February trade deadline.

The Knicks have more assets to deal than Miami in a Mitchell trade, with eight first-rounders available to use or trade in the next four drafts, compared with two for the Heat. New York could dangle R.J. Barrett with those picks.

The Nets also have been mentioned as a potential suitor if Cleveland decides to listen to offers.

▪ Toronto: Pascal Siakam, with a $37.9 million expiring contract, could be dealt, but he isn’t a realistic fit for Miami because of 1) lack of three-point range and 2) acquiring him and giving him something close to a max contract would make the Heat a tax team and limit future flexibility.

According to The Athletic, Siakam is more likely to be dealt that OG Anunoby, who is expected to opt out of $18.7 million for next season.

With Duncan Robinson’s renaissance, there wouldn’t be a Heat need for Gary Trent Jr., who is due $18.5 million on an expiring contract.

▪ Brooklyn: If the Nets begin losing a lot, the expiring deals of Spencer Dinwiddie ($20.3 million), Nic Claxton ($9.6 million) and Royce O’Neal ($9.5 million) could come into play. But that seems increasingly unlikely, with Brooklyn’s roster seemingly good enough to at least compete for a fifth or sixth seed.

▪ Detroit: Lots of possibilities here but none necessarily that would make sense for Miami.

Detroit has expiring deals of Joe Harris ($19.9 million), Alec Burks ($10.4 million) and Monte Morris ($9.8 million), but the player who would make the most sense of that group -- point guard Morris -- hasn’t played this season because of a quad injury that has mushroomed into something serious.

He underwent a platelet-rich plasma injection as a form of stem cell treatment to help his healing process, but he’s not expected back until January.

Forward Bojan Bogdanovic wouldn’t make sense, because the Pistons reportedly want a lot back in return. He’s due $20 million and $19 million the next two seasons, and there wouldn’t be a logical money match with Miami anyway.

▪ Washington: There are expiring contracts that can be packaged for Lowry that work within cap rules. The most obvious: Tyus Jones ($14 million), Delon Wright ($8.2 million) and Danilo Gallinari ($6.8 million).

But Washington assuredly would want something of some value beyond Lowry, and that would be the Heat conundrum with this hypothetical package. (Miami also would need to clear out a roster spot.)

Jones (12.2 points, 5.4 assists and 41.3 percent on threes) would be an interesting point guard trade option; he’s 10 years younger than Lowry. He’s shooting an impressive 53.1 percent from the field and is considered a pretty good defender on one of the league’s worst defensive teams.

Wright - who has career averages of 7.2 points and 35.3 percent shooting on threes - is a serviceable point guard but has played in only eight games this season because of a sprained left knee.

Gallinari - who the Heat tried to acquire three years ago - is averaging 7.2 points and shooting a worse-than-usual 31.7 percent on threes. He would be additional stretch-four depth, though he’s declining and likely wouldn’t play much, if at all.

There’s no indication that Washington would dangle Kyle Kuzma, who’s earning $25.6 million this season and is due $23.5 million, $21.5 million and $19.4 million the next three seasons.

▪ Indiana: With the Pacers in playoff contention, they’re looking to acquire a defensively-skilled wing with size (as ESPN reported) and not trade any key pieces.

There has been no Heat interest in impending free agent Buddy Hield, who’s making $19.3 million in the final year of his contract. And Myles Turner - with two years left on his deal at $20.9 million and $19.9 million - isn’t available.

▪ Orlando: Any chance of the Magic being sellers has seemingly evaporated with their strong start. So expiring deals of Markelle Fultz ($17 million) and Gary Harris ($13 million) could come into play for Orlando only if they can upgrade.

▪ Charlotte: While Lowry for Gordon Hayward’s $31.5 million expiring contract would work from a cap standpoint (and raise the Heat’s tax bill), neither team has any particular motivation to do it. The Heat would be left without a natural point guard and an often-injured, past-his-prime player that it once wined and dined in free agency.

Point guard Terry Rozier (23.2 points per game) would be worth discussing if the Hornets want to move on, but there’s no indication that Charlotte would make him available. He’s due $23.2 million this season and $24.9 million next season, with a $26.4 million team option for 2025-26.

▪ Atlanta: The Hawks might need to overhaul if this nucleus continues to underachieve.

If Atlanta ever dangled 6-8 DeAndre Hunter (14.9 points per game, 40.4 percent on threes), that’s worth an inquiry, but the money is hefty for the production (the next three seasons after this one will pay him $21.7 million, $23.3 million and $24.9 million).

The hope would be to get similar combined production from Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith at much lower salaries.

Martin will be an unrestricted free agent next summer if he opts out of his $6.8 million salary as expected, and Highsmith will be a restricted free agent.

Keep this in mind: Because the Heat is well above the luxury tax line (and due to pay a $30 million tax as the roster is currently constructured), Miami cannot sign any buyout-market players whose pre-buyout salary this season exceeded $12.4 million, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks noted.