Heat beat the Cavs 101-91 in Miami

Miami Heat guard Norris Cole is fouled by Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game on Dec. 25, 2014 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami. The Heat won 101-91. (David Santiago/El Nuevo Herald/TNS)

(David Santiago)

DETROIT, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons are looking into the possibility of trading for Miami Heat point guard Norris Cole, league sources tell Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Miami has sent the word out that the 26-year-old defensive specialist can be had. There's nothing imminent at this point and talks have been described as "exploratory," a source said.

With Brandon Jennings out for the season with a torn Achilles, Detroit is searching for another point guard to pacify the loss. Cole, who played his collegiate ball at Cleveland State, is a free agent at season's end. D.J. Augustin and rookie Spencer Dinwiddie are the two healthy point guards on the Pistons' roster.

The plan is to acquire a short-term option and evaluate that player at the end of the season, one league source said.

"We definitely got to get a third point guard, there's no question," said Stan Van Gundy, the team's head coach and President of Basketball Operations. "To go out and get a guy who would be a huge difference maker, you probably have to give up something that would hurt you down the road.

"We're not in panic time here. We're not going to do that and be sitting here in the summer kicking ourselves for trying to do something short-term that would hurt us in the long-term."

In 39 games this season, Cole is averaging 6.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 23 starts.