NBA Trade Rumors: Miami Heat Should Make an Offer for Chris Kaman

The Miami Heat should jump all over the Hornets dangling Chris Kaman and make a trade that will lead them to the championship. 

The Heat are rolling through the regular season, but we have seen this movie before. It happened last year. Their regular-season dominance will not lead to a championship because when it comes down to a seven-game series against a complete team, the Heat will crumble in their incompleteness. 

Kaman would be the final piece to the puzzle and make this a more diverse team. More on that in a second, but first let's take a look at just how available he is. 

The Rumors

Marc Stein of ESPN got the Kaman trade rumors jump started. Here is Stein: 

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The New Orleans Hornets are actively trying to trade center Chris Kaman, who was not with the team for its home game Friday night against Orlando as the league-owned Hornets field trade calls for him.

The Hornets have decided to shelve Kaman until they can find a trade home for him after making the decision to give his minutes to young players. Kaman had been made inactive for Wednesday's loss at Oklahoma City even though he's not injured.

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Kaman is 29 years old. He is averaging 9.3 points and 6.9 rebounds in 22.7 minutes per game. He has had a reduced role this year, but he has been healthy, and that is the real key here. 

Just two seasons ago, Kaman was an All Star and averaged 18.5 points and 9.2 rebounds. 

Feasibility of Trade

Saying the Heat need to pull off this trade, and actually having them be able to do it is another thing altogether.

The problem with the Heat making a trade is that, outside of the big three, they have very little to offer. Especially when they are trying to attain Kaman, who makes just over $14 million.

They do have a package they could put together, though. Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony and Mike Miller would be enough to make this trade work salary-wise. And while this would compromise the Heat's frontcourt depth, it would be worth it for what they would gain.

Anthony and Haslem combined do not equal Kaman. Haslem is a solid rebounder, but he is where the offense goes to die. The guy is just an albatross on the offensive end.

Anthony is a solid presence on the defensive end, but he brings absolutely nothing on offense. Miller has only been able to play seven games this season—they will hardly even know he is gone.  

To get the Hornets to entertain this offer, they would undoubtedly have to throw in some draft picks.

While this is a lot for the Heat to give up, the reward is worth it because this team is not complete enough to win the championship without him.   

Why They Should Make This Trade

This trade would give the Heat a far more complete team, as Kaman would give them a big man that could actually score in the post. 

Chris Bosh simply is not that kind of player. The threat of a player with a post game would make this offense almost impossible to defend. 

Kaman would also give the Heat a big-time rebounder, and this skill would neutralize the loss of Haslem's rebounding.

Kaman is also capable of playing D on the league's bigger centers, which would make Anthony's loss a non-issue.  

While this would hurt the Heat's depth, they would be able to weather this storm as Eddy Curry is ready to start contributing some minutes. 

Miami would be a much more effective half-court team with Kaman, and ultimately that is what they are going to need to succeed in the playoffs.