Miami Heat: 5 Teams That Will Explore Trading for Chris Bosh

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If the Miami Heat are unable to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, expect the trade rumors to begin as soon as the final buzzer sounds on the 2011-12 season.

While Chris Bosh is a superstar in this league, he’s also the most likely candidate of the Big Three for teams to get their hands on via trade this summer.

Whether Bosh ends up on the trade block or not has yet to be seen, but should it happen this offseason, there will be a number of teams that will explore acquiring the big man for the 2012-13 NBA season.

Orlando Magic

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Dwight Howard may have opted in to the final year of his deal, but that in no way means that the drama is over in Orlando.

Howard's future with the Orlando Magic is as undecided as ever, and if the organization is smart, they’ll finally get rid of him this summer.

In a deal with the Heat, Orlando won't get the kind of depth they hoped to receive from the Brooklyn Nets last year. However, if they can swing a deal for Chris Bosh, they could bring in one of the better talents on the market as they head into next season.

Los Angeles Lakers

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Pau Gasol was on the trading block seemingly all last season, and following back-to-back second-round exits, the Los Angeles Lakers should look to finally move the big man this summer.

Gasol will be 32 years old by the time next season begins, and although he’s still producing at a decent rate, a 28-year-old Chris Bosh should have more in the tank as the Lakers try to redeem themselves next season.

Bosh doesn’t necessarily help the Lakers clear cap space, but getting younger and bringing in extra star power could help the team make a run at the Oklahoma City Thunder next year.

Atlanta Hawks

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Josh Smith has voiced his dissatisfaction with playing in Atlanta, and while his play hasn’t given the Hawks any reason to ditch the star, the team needs a shakeup heading into the 2012-13 NBA season.

Smith’s contract runs out after next year, and if the Hawks want to avoid losing the 26-year-old player for nothing, they could look to a team like Miami to make a deal this summer.

Houston Rockets

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Despite playing in all 66 games this year, 32-year-old Luis Scola took a step backward from the great showing he had in the 2011-12 NBA season.

Their attempts to bring in Pau Gasol over the past year have been well-documented, but having been unsuccessful on more than one occasion, they should turn their attention to the Miami Heat this summer.

Bosh won’t exactly be the replacement to Yao Ming they’ve been looking for, but bringing in a star to help get them back to Western Conference relevancy could be the goal if they’re willing to send away some depth in the deal. 

Brooklyn Nets

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The Brooklyn Nets were unable to swing a deal for Dwight Howard last season, and while the superstar will be back on the block again this summer, they might have an easier time obtaining Chris Bosh from the Miami Heat.

Bosh and Howard are two completely different players, but one thing they might have in common is their ability to keep Deron Williams around as the team transitions to their new arena this next season.

Bosh alone is not going to make them a contender out East, but the two-man game between he and Williams might be just what the young team needs to propel them to the next level.