Miami Heat and Pat Riley are not strangers to adding great talent to the roster in the search of bringing the Larry O’Brien trophy to Miami. Since the acquisition of Jimmy Butler in 2019, it always seemed like the Heat were one piece away from winning it all after falling short in two finals appearances. Since that timeframe, Miami has been heavily linked to top superstars who had interest in “bringing their talents to South Beach” with the ambitions of joining the ‘Heat Culture’ and winning it all.
Heat fans have been eager for Pat Riley to make a move and sign a superstar that can take them back to the promise land but it seems as if “running it back” and staying true to the “culture” is of more of an importance than landing the likes of: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Donovan Mitchell and Damien Lillard.
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Now with departure of Jimmy Butler after a bad breakup with the organization, the Heat are without a superstar caliber player and currently have 11 of the 15 players from their 37-45 season that resulted in a first round Exit.
According to Barry Jackson, “The Heat Believes it cannot accurately judge last Season’s post-Butler roster because of the Chaos that Butler Created”.
With it being July and the Off-season in full swing, Riley and the Heat have been in speculations to add another player to their core of Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo and rising second year player Kel’el Ware. It has been said that the Heat will “pounce if an in-his-prime star, or very good player, becomes available in the trade market”, per Jackson. For the most part, Pat and the organization is holding up to their promises by acquiring Simone Fontecchio from the Pistons and Norman Powell from the Clippers early this morning.
Though these are very good players, the Heat are still in search of their next superstar player. So we’ve gathered the top 5 players who could be trade targets for the Heat Culture on their quest back to being championship contenders.
According to Bovada, the favorites for the next superstar to next Land in Miami are:
- Ja Morant (+550)
- Lauri Markkanen (+550)
- Zach Lavine (+700)
- Domantas Sabonis (+700)
- Jamal Murray (+900)
*Odds subject to change
Ja Morant
There is no denying that Ja Morant is a superstar in this league and the face of the Memphis Grizzlies organization but In his young career he has been plagued with injury, suspension and controversy. Through these rough times Memphis has found a way to win without Morant being on the court going 18-14 just last season and 20-5 during the 21-22 season. Miami trading for Morant would fill the long needed role of a point guard who can ignite their offense while also giving Morant a chance for a new start under the strict Heat Culture. Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report created this trade package for Miami to land the star point guard.
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Nikola jović, Jaime Jacques Jr, Pelle Larson, a 2029 first round pick and a 2031 first round pick pick swap.
For the Grizzlies they get to rebuild their roster with fresh new talent and Miami Gets the Superstar they need without breaking up their core.
Lauri Markkanen
Lauri Markkanen makes sense for the Heat, a long defensive specialists that can put the ball in the basket any way he please. For Lauri it is a chance for him to go to a winning organization after spending 3 years in the Salt Lake City. Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report put together this trade for Miami to acquire the 7’0 forward.
Utah Jazz receive: Nikola Jović, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, 2025 first round pick and 2030 first round pick.
But with Robinson being gone now the Heat can look to send a package of just Terry Rozier, Andrew Wiggins and exchange the 25 pick with a 2026 1st round pick. This way the heat can keep a developing Jović and hopefully unlock his potential with Lauri to show him the way.
For the Jazz they get draft capital and two vets that can lead the team with their veteran leadership or they’ll be able to flip the expiring deals for younger players or more draft picks.
Zach Lavine
Zach Lavine is a name that has been spiraling around the Heat’s organization for a while now, and what better time for the Heat to go and get him? During Lavine’s time in Chicago he wanted out of the Windy City and preferred to be traded to the Sunny skies in Miami. Ultimately he was dealt to Sacramento and paired with his former Teammate Demar Derozan. Miami can use the skill set that Lavine brings to the game offensively, a three level scorer that can get to the rim effectively. This can set up multiple opportunities for the surrounding cast. Lavine is also an effective defender that can fit right into the role that Jimmy Butler once held defensively. Clutch Points wrote up a trade that would land themselves Lavine.
Sacramento Kings acquire: Andrew Wiggins, Duncan Robinson and a 2025 first round pick.
Again with Robinson being traded, we can replace Duncan with Rozier, and push the pick back to 2026 and the trade will be valid.
For Sacramento they get a guard in Rozier that can fill the hole at the Guard spot after Fox’s trade and Wiggins is a proven vet than can pair well with Demar if he isn’t traded. The Kings seem to be in a rebuilding phase so they can expand these contracts as well.
Domantis Sabonis
With the path that the Kings are on Sabonis could be looking at Sacramento in the rear view mirror. Losing Fox and having Derozan and Lavine who didn’t particularly mesh well in Chicago, it could be time for them to light the beam and start the rebuild process.
Domantis is a player that can do it all on both ends of the floor. A monster rebounder, a decent scorer, great facilitator and can guard elite bigs. Sabonis has shown that he can be a Jokic type big in the right system and Erick Spoelstra could be the mastermind to unlock that potential.
For this trade to work the heat would have to give up their cornerstone piece to for the money and structural line up to work.
Sacramento Receives: Bam Adebayo and 2026 first round pick
This trade works for both teams because their games are very similar to each others, so why would they make these trades?
The Miami heat can be desperate to make a win now move and have to choose between Herro and Bam to get their superstar. In this case Bam’s contract is similars to Sabonis .
Bam’s age also fits the timeline of a rebuilding team and the kings can build around him.
Jamal Murray
It’s hard to fathom a championship duo being broken up in their prime years together but after head coach Mike Malone and general manager Calvin Booth were both fired right before the end of the season and start of the playoffs, there’s no telling what moves can be made to appease their star in Jokic and get back to winning a championship. In an article from the Denver Post, it seemed that Murray at least for some time was an option to be traded before getting his extension. With a second round lost in this year’s playoffs it could be time to go a new route.
For Miami Murray brings the Guard skills that Miami has lacked at point guard since prime Goran Dragic days. Jamal is a scoring savant that plays well off the pick and roll opening up the games of both Bam and Kel’el. Murray also can defend on the perimeter which will take a ton of pressure off of Herro. Murray is the elite level guard with championship experience that can help lead the Heat back to the finals.
Nuggets receive: Terry Rozier, Andrew Wiggins and multiple draft picks
Nuggets will be getting an explosive offensive minded guard in Rozier and Wiggins who can bolster their defensive front.
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