NBA Trade Rumors: Would Nene Hilario To the Miami Heat Make Them Title Favorites

When the Miami Heat began the 2010-11 campaign, the organization knew that they had three monumental advantages in every game for the next six years. Having LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh on the court wearing the same jersey might be the greatest threat and largest advantage a team has held over any other organization since Wilt Chamberlain was scoring 50 points per game on an average night. Bosh is a quality mid-range shooter, while the combination of Wade and James is the scariest sight to see when running with momentum on a fast break.

However, even with this trio joining together in Miami, there were still plenty of glaring holes and problems that could derail the assured championship that everybody was expecting. For instance, the Heat has the oldest team in basketball with three players 35 years or older, and nine players overall that are 30 years or older. Of the 35-year old players, Zydrunas Ilgauskas is the only player who receives significant playing time, while Juwan Howard sees his playing time coming at the moment, mostly because of injuries at the power forward position, and Erick Dampier is only instituted when the Heat take on one of the larger centers in the league.

Aside from age issues, the Heat also have two holes that have yet to be filled at the point guard and center position. Each position has already proved troublesome, as the Heat have gone through two different players at each position, with Carlos Arroyo being substituted for Mario Chalmers and Joel Anthony being replaced by Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Neither substitution has made a lasting effect though as Chalmers still makes bone-headed plays and Ilgauskas can't defend against bigger centers or keep up with rotations that require him to move out of the paint.

While the point guard situation is still a problem, the Heat at least have James or Wade to pick up the pieces to lead the offense and defense from the one spot. The center position, however, cannot be saved by James, Wade or even Bosh as the team continues to look for answers that just aren't on the roster. Jamaal Magloire is on the verge of retirement and Dexter Pittman apparently still needs D-League work since the organization has kept him there for the latter part of the season thus far.

Out in the west though, there is a player who could easily solve the Heat's problems under the basket if he is given the chance to join the team. With the turmoil in Denver over the entire Carmelo Anthony saga, a few Nuggets players have voiced their displeasure over the situation. Aside from Chauncey Billups, who would also be a fantastic fit in Miami, Nuggets center Nene Hilario has also stated that he is unhappy with the way things have gone over the past few months.

The 28-year-old Brazilian has had a modest career thus far, averaging 12 points and seven rebounds over his nine seasons in the league, but is having a breakout year this season, averaging a career high 15 points and seven rebounds per game. Hilario has had a few scares over his career, with a serious knee injury at the start of 2005 that sidelined him for the season and an even scarier health ailment in the 2007-08 season when he was diagnosed with a testicular tumor.

Aside from the health and injury scares, Hilario has been a great fit with the Nuggets and could be an even better fit for the Heat. The team has had some obvious concerns at the center position from Ilgauskas's defense to Anthony's rebounding and offense, a hard-nosed defender and overall tough player like Hilario would be perfect for a team that could use a dose of physicality in the starting lineup. Aside from the seldom played Magloire, the Heat doesn't have too many players that could give opposing teams a hypothetical punch in the mouth when a member of the big three gets fouled hard.

Not only do you bring in a quality defender to defend the likes of Dwight Howard and Joakim Noah, the Heat receive a center who can actually bring some offense to the five spot. Aside from Ilgauskas and his mid-range shot, the Heat have not one offensive threat. Joel might be the most inept offensive player in the league, and Dampier is more of a defender and rebounder than a scorer, which leaves more of the scoring responsibility on the shoulders of the big three and the shooters who surround them.

Unlike Anthony who receives astounding passes only to airball a dunk or lay up, Hilario is a player who can actually catch the ball and finish it with emphasis. The big three don't have any other players aside from themselves to pass the ball to; a teammate that can actually finish with the ball with emphasis in the paint. Until Udonis Haslem returns, the big three can only look towards each other when it comes to making the highlight reel.

A trade in the middle of the season would set back nearly five months worth of time where the team has attempted to build a chemistry between the big three and the supporting cast. Not only that, but the Heat don't contain the pieces to offer a balanced trade that would provide the Nuggets with some quality role players as well. Unless the team is ready to trade away the likes of Chris Bosh or Mario Chalmers, then a mid-season trade is highly unlikely.

The team can wait until the summer when Hilario will be an available free agent. The Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Heat have all showed interest in Hilario since he voiced his displeasure towards the Nuggets organization. Unless you have been living under a rock, you would know that the Heat don't have the type of funds that could sign a player like Hilario. They can only offer the mid-level exception to a player that is earning $11.3 million and would probably be offered plenty more money by the Mavs and Rockets.

The Heat, however, offer more than each of those teams as they give Hilario the greatest chance of winning his first NBA title. The Mavs are title contenders for now, but with Dirk Nowitzki at 32 years old, the door for a title is closing fast in Dallas. Miami has three of the NBA's top players, with each being 29 years old or younger, as well as a roster with a number of key role players who can all play a large part on this team when making a title run. Hilario just adds another volatile dimension to an already dangerous team.

If Hilario were to join the team next season, the Heat would become immediate title favorites for years to come because of the possibility of having another offensive and defensive threat on a team with three of the best scorers and two of the best defenders in the league in the starting lineup. Another center like Hilario doesn't come around too often and it would be wise for Pat Riley and the Heat franchise to make a serious push at obtaining the powerful Brazilian.