NBA Trade Deadline 2012: Heat Likely To Stand Pat, Unless Center Comes Available

The Miami Heat did their improvement work in the June draft, nabbing Norris Cole, and with a single meaningful move in free agency, grabbing Shane Battier. Miami was the East champ with a young squad a year ago, and has improved with those two additions and no major personnel losses. That's why Miami's name won't likely crop up much at the trade deadline.

If there's anyone the Heat could consider an upgrade, it'd be at center, where Joel Anthony has been a useful starter, and where Miami often goes small. (Chris Bosh is playing 36 percent of the team's minutes at center.) If Chris Kaman is bought out by the Hornets after the deadline, he could be enticed to join Miami, though likely as a backup. Kaman doesn't exactly strike you as a South Beach guy, but the same could be said of Battier.

With a salary level of $77 million, the Heat are roughly $7 million over the luxury tax threshold, according to ShamSports.com. James Jones isn't getting too many minutes, but he's valuable to have in the cupboard as a shooter and defender. Trading him would only have the team about $2 million, less any salary they'd have to send out with him.