Former NBA Coach Jeff Van Gundy Takes A Huge Shot At The Miami Heat

Despite being just a single game over .500, most fans are willing to give the Miami Heat the benefit of the doubt. With Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and a core that made the Finals a few years ago, common sense says they have a chance to get back there if they stay healthy.

But this season, the Heat may have overestimated the depth of their roster, and the team is finding it hard to fill in the gaps when some of their top players miss time.

Even when their stars have been on the floor, however, there has always been a sense that the Heat don't have enough to compete with the likes of the Bucks, Celtics, or even the Nets. Former NBA coach (turned ESPN commentator) Jeff Van Gundy apparently agrees with that sentiment and even went as far as to suggest the once proud Miami Heat are in a state of limbo.

"They can't win a championship with this roster"... But they're not bad enough to get a high pick. So this is where we are.

At just 20-19 on the season, the Heat are far from the team we imagined they'd be. While it's likely they will manage to sneak into the playoffs, how far can they really go with so many stacked teams in the East?

This season, if Miami wants to count themselves among the elite, they may need to shake things up with a big-time trade.

Should The Heat Make A Move At The Trade Deadline?

Pat Riley has never been one to panic, but he can't be pleased with the state of his ball club right now. Some fans have thrown out the idea of a total rebuild for South Beach, but that's not the only way they could go.

In an article earlier this year, we mentioned a potential deal that could change everything.

Our trade scenario features Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan moving to the Miami Heat, in exchange for a package that features Tyler Herro and multiple draft picks.

Miami Heat Receive: Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan

Chicago Bulls Receive: Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, 2023 First-Round Pick, 2027 First-Round Pick, 2029 First-Round Pick

This trade could potentially have benefits for both teams, and it is clear that this deal could end up being a fantastic move when considering both teams' short-term and long-term objectives....

Whether the Heat make a homerun trade for DeRozan or a small splash for a guy like Jae Crowder, they are not a team that should be happy with complacency this season.

Things are moving fast, and there's no guarantee they'll be able to flip the switch before the season slips away.