Dec 23, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat team president Pat Riley looks on during the game between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers at FTX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat
A historical NBA trade deadline has officially came to an end. In what ended up becoming one of the more shocking deadlines in recent league history was capped off with a historical finish.
The Miami Heat who were expected to be active buyers ended up mysteriously not making any moves before the 3PM deadline today.
It’s fair to say GM Pat Riley was sleeping at the wheel. Get this, the 77-year-old was actually sleeping.
According to the Miami Herald, the Heat had a deal to send Kyle Lowry to Los Angeles that had “nearly been finalized,” but Riley was nowhere to be found because he was “resting.” Instead, the Clippers pivoted, trading Luke Kennard for Eric Gordon, followed up by sending Reggie Jackson to the Hornets in exchange for Mason Plumlee.
While this story has yet to be officially confirmed, it’s fun to speculate.
Trading Lowry and his $29.7M was always going to be difficult for Miami, but the win-now Clippers seemingly were the perfect fit. With point guards John Wall and Reggie Jackson becoming casualties at the deadline, LA has a gaping hole at the guard position.
Heat fans expressed their outrage on twitter.
2 years and no real trades. Thanks for wasting the talents of Jimmy and Bam you losers @MiamiHEAT
— Austin (@ChefTrillie_) February 9, 2023
What a pathetic franchise, what a joke @MiamiHEAT. Y’all have pretty much lost me for the rest of the season. Not investing any energy into a mid product anymore. What a joke
— CANES HOOPS TOWN (@VicBurnerAcct) February 9, 2023
Of course, the deal could have fell through because of Lowry’s lucrative contract, diminished play, or nagging injuries, but for now we’ll go with the latter; Pat Riley was asleep.
We officially seen it all.
The Heat currently sit as the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference at 30-25. They will take on the Rockets in Miami tomorrow night.
