WHAT IF Part 2: The Trade That Wasn't Made: Mitch Richmond to Miami

[twix2500]

Hall of Famer Mitch Richmond was probably the quietest Superstar of all-time in the NBA. For years hidden from National TV on the lonely Sacramento Kings. That could of all change in a trade to the Miami Heat ever fell through. Between 1995 and 1998, there was a possibility All-Star guard Mitch Richmond could of been a Miami Heat. In a league dominated by Michael Jordan, Mitch Richmond was highly considered the second best 2 guard in the league. And Pat was trying to build a powerhouse and wanted Richmond to be part of it. What if that actually happened?

Pat Riley was making all the signature moves back in 1995 when he joined the Miami Heat. Pat traded Glen Rice, center Matt Geiger and point guard Khalid Reeves, as well as the Heat's No. 1 pick in next year's draft, to now Heat legend Alonzo Mourning, reserve center LeRon Ellis and backup guard Pete Myers to Miami.

In February 1996 Pat reeled in Tim Hardaway. All it took was sending Kevin Willis and Bimbo Coles to Golden State. In return the Heat added forward Walt Williams, forward-center Chris Gatling and guards Hardaway and Tony Smith.

The following summer of 1996, the NBA vetoed the agreed deal between Juwan Howard and the Miami Heat. This killed Pat attempt in adding a big three (sounds familiar). But that didn't stop Pat, as he traded for Jamal Mashburn in Feb 1997. In hopes to add that third star player.

Mission accomplish right? Nope, during all of these trades rumors stayed alive of Pat trying to deal for Mitch Richmond since 1995 till about 98. Pat desperately wanted someone who could match up against Jordan. Pat tried hard to get Mitch, to the point that Mitch himself thought it was gonna happen. Pat unable to get Kings to agree to a deal, In a desperate move trades Ike Austin for for guard Brent Barry. That obviously didn't workout. Brent never bought in RIley philosophy of defense and quickly got in Riley doghouse.

What if Pat was able to acquire Mitch Richmond. How good would the team be?



Mitchell James Richmond III (Rock) ▪ Twitter: @MitchRichmond23

Position: Shooting Guard
Height: 6-5 ▪ Weight: 215 lbs
1997 Richmond average 26 pts, 43% 3pt%, 4 asst
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8m1xhy00zg[/youtube]

[heat4life]

I remember dreaming of Mitch for two years before he was finally traded to the Wizards. I also remember how much I hated the Isaac Austin for Brent Barry trade. If Mitch comes to Miami, he wears #23 and we would have Heat jersey in the rafters with #23 instead of Jordan's

[LEIF]

I enjoy this conversation.

Riley tried like hell to get Richmond many times. Almost had a deal done but in the end refused to include P.J. Brown which ended up being a deal breaker. He just couldn't come to grips with breaking up PJ Brown and Zo at that juncture of that era.

Couple other almost trades/signings that never happened but were stunningly close to completion.

Riley almost dealt PJ Brown & others for Derrick Coleman when DC was in Philly.
Riley almost completed a trade for Antoine Walker while in his prime years in Boston WAYYYY before we acquired him in 2005-06.
Riley tried like heck to acquire Latrell Sprewell but was beaten out by the Knicks of all teams.
It was reported on the radio the HEAT had agreed to deal for Tracy McGrady in a S&T deal with Toronto before he backed out and chose Orlando at the last minute. Imagine that. Orlando was a more attractive destination at the time...

And the craziest one of all, in the summer of 96, before the Juwan Howard deal fell through, I had heard Riley thought he had a deal for Gary Payton to sign in Miami DONE. Prime GP was coming to the Heat, forming a Big 3 of Zo, GP & Juwan. At the last minute Seattle came in with a higher offer GP couldnt refuse. Riley quickly circled back to Timmie Hardaway and the rest is history...

Gary Payton told me directly at Zo's Summer Groove years later that he was set on Miami, but "money talked bro"

Fun stuff to think about....

[twix2500]

It would of been no doubt that Richmond would of been the lead player in this lineup. I would of love to see this lineup vs jordan bulls. Add a 26 pt scorer next to Hardaway and Zo. on a team that was the top defensive team at the time.

Hardaway vs Harper
Richmond vs Jordan
Mashburn vs Pippen
Brown vs Rodman
Alonzo vs Longley

[DayofMourning]

I enjoy this conversation.

Riley tried like hell to get Richmond many times. Almost had a deal done but in the end refused to include P.J. Brown which ended up being a deal breaker. He just couldn't come to grips with breaking up PJ Brown and Zo at that juncture of that era.

Couple other almost trades/signings that never happened but were stunningly close to completion.

Riley almost dealt PJ Brown & others for Derrick Coleman when DC was in Philly.
Riley almost completed a trade for Antoine Walker while in his prime years in Boston WAYYYY before we acquired him in 2005-06.
Riley tried like heck to acquire Latrell Sprewell but was beaten out by the Knicks of all teams.
It was reported on the radio the HEAT had agreed to deal for Tracy McGrady in a S&T deal with Toronto before he backed out and chose Orlando at the last minute. Imagine that. Orlando was a more attractive destination at the time...

And the craziest one of all, in the summer of 96, before the Juwan Howard deal fell through, I had heard Riley thought he had a deal for Gary Payton to sign in Miami DONE. Prime GP was coming to the Heat, forming a Big 3 of Zo, GP & Juwan. At the last minute Seattle came in with a higher offer GP couldnt refuse. Riley quickly circled back to Timmie Hardaway and the rest is history...

Gary Payton told me directly at Zo's Summer Groove years later that he was set on Miami, but "money talked bro"

Fun stuff to think about....

I remember reading about the McGrady deal being done, and I wasn't THAT impressed. Then he went to Orlando and became a megastar and I was like, "Damn! We could have had that?!".

I wanted GP badly too. He was the perfect point guard for the Heat and Riley at that time. He really fit the scheme.

[DayofMourning]

I remember dreaming of Mitch for two years before he was finally traded to the Wizards. I also remember how much I hated the Isaac Austin for Brent Barry trade. If Mitch comes to Miami, he wears #23 and we would have Heat jersey in the rafters with #23 instead of Jordan's

I had forgotten all about the Brent Barry to Miami trade. Shows how impressive he was for us. That, or my brain has become mush.

[heat4life]

I remember dreaming of Mitch for two years before he was finally traded to the Wizards. I also remember how much I hated the Isaac Austin for Brent Barry trade. If Mitch comes to Miami, he wears #23 and we would have Heat jersey in the rafters with #23 instead of Jordan's

I had forgotten all about the Brent Barry to Miami trade. Shows how impressive he was for us. That, or my brain has become mush.

How could you remember? He hated being traded from LA (he averaged 13ppg there that season), he refused to focus on defense, didn't get Riley's hard work/no-nonsense environment and was as soft as a tissue in one of the toughest teams at the time. He only played in 17 games for a total of 259 unimpressive minutes (4ppg). The worst part was trading away a fan favorite in Ike Austin to get that fraud called Brent. It was an odd trade at the time with both players being free agents that summer. Of course Barry left the team that summer and went on to average double figures for Chicago the following season

[RexBoyWonder]

Like every time travelling novel will tell you, You cant predict the larger effects when you change even 1 detail in History.

Mitch was a great player, but all in all we became one of the most successful and respected organization in the league, got the rings, and ended up with a better and more exciting player that spent his entire career - Dwyane Wade.

So bottom line - I'm happy with how things worked out and wouldn't change a thing.

[DayofMourning]

I remember dreaming of Mitch for two years before he was finally traded to the Wizards. I also remember how much I hated the Isaac Austin for Brent Barry trade. If Mitch comes to Miami, he wears #23 and we would have Heat jersey in the rafters with #23 instead of Jordan's

I had forgotten all about the Brent Barry to Miami trade. Shows how impressive he was for us. That, or my brain has become mush.

How could you remember? He hated being traded from LA (he averaged 13ppg there that season), he refused to focus on defense, didn't get Riley's hard work/no-nonsense environment and was as soft as a tissue in one of the toughest teams at the time. He only played in 17 games for a total of 259 unimpressive minutes (4ppg). The worst part was trading away a fan favorite in Ike Austin to get that fraud called Brent. It was an odd trade at the time with both players being free agents that summer. Of course Barry left the team that summer and went on to average double figures for Chicago the following season

http://nbatrades.tumblr.com/post/72070117113/miami-heat-acquire-brent-barry

Found a pretty good link to get nostalgia flowing. The best part is how they talk about Mourning getting suspended and the need for a big like Austin to pick up the slack against the Knicks in his absence.

[DayofMourning]

By the way, what was the "WHAT IF Part 1"?

[DayofMourning]

It just dawned on me that we could have had Run TMZ.

[eddieheatfan]

richmond was pretty good at his position because he was a solid guard with almost the whole package but i still stick with timmy here.the heat and the fans had lots of fun and heart breaks during that era that are legendary for at least for me.

[DayofMourning]

richmond was pretty good at his position because he was a solid guard with almost the whole package but i still stick with timmy here.the heat and the fans had lots of fun and heart breaks during that era that are legendary for at least for me.

I think the suggestion was that he'd be here with Timmy.

He was half way decent at his postion, I agree. Stumbled into the HOF;)

[RJM]

Considering Riley's uber-strict defensive discipline at the time, I'm not sure Mitch, for all of his scoring ability, would have been the best friend of Riley's. Historians remember him as a talented scorer and little else. I certainly don't remember Richmond being a defensive menace. It's easy to, in hindsight, inject Richmond into Miami's staunch defensive rotations and consider him the missing piece on a perennial Eastern Conference Contender, but one can't fully be sure it would have worked out for the best.

I will say this, though: A lineup of Hardaway-Richmond-Majerle-Brown-Mourning would have been something special to see.

[DayofMourning]

Considering Riley's uber-strict defensive discipline at the time, I'm not sure Mitch, for all of his scoring ability, would have been the best friend of Riley's. Historians remember him as a talented scorer and little else. I certainly don't remember Richmond being a defensive menace. It's easy to, in hindsight, inject Richmond into Miami's staunch defensive rotations and consider him the missing piece on a perennial Eastern Conference Contender, but one can't fully be sure it would have worked out for the best.

I will say this, though: A lineup of Hardaway-Richmond-Majerle-Brown-Mourning would have been something special to see.

You may be right about his defensive fit. Those Miami teams weren't know for their offense either, with players like Monster Mash achieving less with us than they did elsewhere. The same would have likely happened to Mitch.

How about a lineup of Payton-Majerle-McGrady-Brown-Zo?

[twix2500]

Actually Mitch was considered a very good defensive player. Mitch was already an elite player. He would have been better than Zo and Timmy. Majerle was pretty much done after 97, his back was gone thats why Leonard's development was so important. But Leonard was so limited. Great shooter good defender, but athletically limited.

[MettaWorldPanda]

Mitch Richmond went to my high school. BA Cobras. Cool story bruhs

[balla345]

I think something we should ask ourselves is WHAT IF we never got dwayne wade

[RJM]

Considering Riley's uber-strict defensive discipline at the time, I'm not sure Mitch, for all of his scoring ability, would have been the best friend of Riley's. Historians remember him as a talented scorer and little else. I certainly don't remember Richmond being a defensive menace. It's easy to, in hindsight, inject Richmond into Miami's staunch defensive rotations and consider him the missing piece on a perennial Eastern Conference Contender, but one can't fully be sure it would have worked out for the best.

I will say this, though: A lineup of Hardaway-Richmond-Majerle-Brown-Mourning would have been something special to see.

You may be right about his defensive fit. Those Miami teams weren't know for their offense either, with players like Monster Mash achieving less with us than they did elsewhere. The same would have likely happened to Mitch.

How about a lineup of Payton-Majerle-McGrady-Brown-Zo?

That team is built to win a championship. Payton and Zo as the established stars, Majerle and Brown as the steady veterans that could be counted on from time to time, and Tracy McGrady as the bourgeoning superstar-level talent capable of sliding into the offense where needed before taking over when necessary.

A Big Three of Payton, Zo (assuming he stays healthy), and a rapidly rising McGrady is a championship-level team, good enough even to challenge the Lakers at some point between 2000-2003.

[Swindle]

Getting Richmond would have been kinda like getting Zo without having to trade Glen. I would put those guys in the same tier; Rice being a deadlier 3pt shooter and having the better peak season, but Richmond being a bit better of a player overall. I'm not sure if it would beat out Jordan's loaded Bulls teams, but TMZ would have had a better shot than anyone else at the time.