After losing Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors, the Miami Heat are expected to chase a star this season.
However, a key quality for someone to potentially become the next face of the franchise is that they will need to fit into the ever-so-famous Heat culture.
The Heat could go after the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant as both stars are expected to get traded this summer.
On the other hand, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey proposed a trade that sends Memphis Grizzlies‘ Ja Morant to Miami.
Photo by Justin Ford/Getty ImagesCedric Maxwell sounds off on Ja Morant to the Miami Heat due to Pat Riley reason
When he’s healthy, Morant is one of the most exciting players in the NBA. As a result, it’s not hard to imagine him playing for a team like the Heat.
But 2x NBA champion Cedric Maxwell doesn’t believe this mock trade will come to fruition as he explained how Pat Riley is to blame for it.
“I can’t see that working out for Pat Riley. Pat Riley runs a really tight ship. Can he fit into that Heat Culture? Because Heat Culture has always been sacrifice for the team,” Maxwell said on the Nightcap podcast.
He added: “The betterment of the team. I’m not sure, I’ve seen Ja Morant, he’s as talented as anyone in this league, but can he put himself in that system playing under Pat Riley in the Heat organization?
“That for me I don’t see that happening.”
No question that Morant is extremely talented, but playing for Riley isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Even someone like LeBron James left the Heat after a fallout with Riley. So, it’s understandable Maxwell doesn’t see Ja playing in Miami.
Latest on Ja Morant’s future with the Memphis Grizzlies
The 2024-25 NBA season marked the sixth campaign for Morant in Memphis. During this tenure, Morant has helped the team qualify four times for the playoffs.
However, the Grizzlies have hardly had any success in the postseason. One may wonder if the organization finally wants to part ways with Morant.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Grizzlies have no such plans, at least for now.
“There is the belief that Memphis still views the former All-Star as a player to build around, not just next season but in the foreseeable future,” Marks wrote.
In any case, Morant still needs to play better as the cornerstone of the franchise as he averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game this season, which isn’t bad, but not good enough by Morant’s standards.