5 Players Miami Heat Are Most Likely to Target in a Potential Trade

At 5-4, the Miami Heat are off to a decent start to the 2014-15 NBA season.

While there is much to be encouraged by—such as the strong play of Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade—it's clear this team needs to improve if it wants to seriously contend in the Eastern Conference.

One way for Miami to improve is to hit the trade market. The Heat aren't going to pursue a marquee player, with $72 million already on the payroll and a set core of top talent in place.

However, there are smaller deals for this team to consider pursuing. Let's take a look at five options.

Iman Shumpert, SG, New York Knicks

Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press

The Heat could really use another shooting guard.

Mario Chalmers is currently Miami's backup shooting guard. Although he's played well, the team would be better off with a more traditional 2.

Enter New York Knicks shooting guard Iman Shumpert.

The Knicks have reportedly entertained the idea of trading Shumpert in the past, and the Heat might want to give New York a call to see if it will again consider making such a move. 

Shumpert is a lengthy defender with good instincts, and he would be a nice piece for Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on that end of the floor.  

He hasn't proved to be a great offensive talent throughout his career (39.9 FG%, 35.2 3P%), but he's a solid ball-handler and has potential at just 24 years old. 

Shumpert has shown off that potential with a fantastic start to the season (13.8 PPG, 50.5 FG%, 53.3 3P%). Unfortunately for Miami, there's a chance such a start might have the Knicks wanting to hold onto him.

Randy Foye, SG, Denver Nuggets

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

The Denver Nuggets (2-6) have been terrible this season. Perhaps the team will commence a fire sale if such poor play continues. 

Randy Foye would represent a target for the Heat if that sale ultimately comes to fruition. 

Foye fills the Heat's need for a shooting guard and gives the team more shooting on the perimeter.

Unlike just about every team in the NBA, Miami is getting much of its three-point production from two big men (Bosh and Shawne Williams). It's impressive that the Heat have such versatile bigs, but Miami's eventually going to need better shooting from its guards. Foye can help with that.

Foye is a career 37.8 percent three-point shooter and has shot at least 38 percent from beyond the arc in each of the past three seasons.

Foye's not a strong defender, but it's going to be difficult for Miami to find an all-around talent if it wants to keep its core players intact (and it surely does).

Foye's three-point shooting ability and his decent playmaking skills are enough for the Heat to have interest.

Evan Fournier, SG, Orlando Magic

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Evan Fournier has been awfully impressive to start the season for the Orlando Magic.

Fournier is averaging 18.2 points on 51.4 percent shooting from both the floor and beyond the arc with 2.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

Fournier will be a tough trade piece, considering his age (22) and strong play this season. But the Heat should still look into a deal because of his cheap contract ($1.4 million) and shooting ability (career 39.6 3P%).

Getting a young talent like Fournier to provide an offensive spark behind Wade would be a great move for Miami.

Timofey Mozgov, C, Denver Nuggets

Don Ryan/Associated Press

Timofey Mozgov represents another Nuggets player Miami should take a look at. 

Mozgov isn't a special talent, but he can provide interior defense (career 2.0 blocks per 36 minutes) and grab rebounds (career 10.1 rebounds per 36 minutes).

Considering the Heat rank 26th in rebounds per game this season and have had trouble protecting the rim, Mozgov's abilities would be a welcome addition.

Mozgov has started for the Nuggets this season and is averaging an impressive 8.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. However, Denver has plenty of centers with J.J. Hickson, Jusuf Nurkic and JaVale McGee in the fold—making Mozgov potentially expendable for Brian Shaw's squad.

John Henson, C, Milwaukee Bucks

Morry Gash/Associated Press

It certainly doesn't say a lot about John Henson's abilities that he's averaging just 12.1 minutes per game on a Milwaukee Bucks team that doesn't have much talent. 

But, again, we're talking about trades that won't cost the Heat much, and one could do worse than Henson when looking for such deals.

At 6'11" and 260 pounds, Henson is an athletic shot-blocking weapon. He's averaged 2.2 blocks per 36 minutes for his career. He's also strong on the glass, hauling down 10.6 boards per 36 minutes for his career.

He's still a work in progress, especially on the offensive end. However, he could fit on the Heat as a high-energy player that focuses on doing the dirty work.

Also, he's just 23 and has plenty of room to grow.