NBA Trade Rumours: 3 Miami Heat stars being linked with an imminent trade

Despite playing in a historically weak Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat failed to qualify for the postseason during Dwayne Wade's final season. The Heat finished the season with a 39-43 record, which was only enough to finish 10th in the East standings.

Not only did Miami fail to provide Wade with the sendoff he deserved, but the franchise has now won just one postseason game in the past three seasons. The Heat have been heading in the wrong direction ever since LeBron James exited in 2014, and now that Wade is gone, it is the perfect time to make much-needed changes to an underperforming roster. So, ahead of a potentially busy summer, here are three players that are being linked with a trade away from Miami.

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#3 Goran Dragic

Goran Dragic has struggled to find his best form in Miami

Goran Dragic signed with the Heat on a five-year, $90 million contract back in 2015, and the 33-year-old is expected to opt-into the final year of his deal this summer. However, according to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel, Miami is open to trading their veteran guard,

While Goran Dragic's $19.2 million will create a degree of stress for the Heat against the cap and tax next season, it won’t impact the Heat’s rebuilding plan,” Winderman wrote. “But once you start adding another $10 million salary to 2020-21 or 2021-22, then you are cutting into future space. What would make more sense … is for the Heat to play it out with Goran at his current number next season, then perhaps go with far smaller annual payments on a follow-up deal, perhaps even one that could be built on exception money after cap space is utilized. … As it is, if Dragic opts in, it would immediately make him a prime, if not the prime, Heat trade chip.

Dragic started just 22 times during the 18/19 season - shooting 41 percent from the field, which was his lowest figure since his rookie year.

#2 Hassan Whiteside

Hassan Whiteside's game hasn't aged well in the modern NBA

When the Heat signed Hassan Whiteside in 2014, they believed the center would soon develop into an All-Star performer. However, Whiteside has failed to live up to his early potential, and Ryan Yousefi of the Miami New Times believes that the Heat will be desperate to trade the 29-year-old this summer,

Whiteside makes no sense for the Heat moving forward. He will be nothing more than a situational role player off the bench for a team trying to rebuild for the future. He's a niche player who flashes dominance when the going is easy, but turtles when the Heat needs him most.

Oh, and he's the team's most expensive player. The Heat should hope he asks for a trade, even if its trade leverage tanks. Paying someone to take Whiteside off the team's hands would be a win at this point.

Whiteside's minutes were reduced to a near career-low 23.3 per game during the 18/19 season, although he still managed to average a double-double.

#1 Dion Waiters

Dion Waiters joined the Heat after performing well with the Thunder

Injuries have restricted Dion Waiters to just 120 appearances in his three years with the Heat and according to Bleacher Report, Miami are keen to offload his salary as they attempt to lure a big name free agent next summer,

President Pat Riley wants to go superstar hunting in 2020 when Miami will have room for two max spots. Standing pat won't arm the Heat with enough money for two A-listers. Assuming Josh Richardson and Justise Winslow are non-starters, Riley must offload two of James Johnson, Kelly Olynyk and Dion Waiters. That process may not begin right away. It'll take at least a first-rounder to get off Johnson and Waiters.

Waiters still has two years left on his existing deal, and he will earn $25 million over the next two campaigns. During the 18/19 season, he averaged 12.0 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game, also knocking down 38% of his attempts from deep.