The clock is counting down! We are now officially 10 days away from the Feb. 5 trade deadline. The only notable deal thus far is Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in a three-player package. But who are names the Miami Heat should consider?!
Disclaimer: I’m dumber than practically every front office executive in the NBA (there’s a reason why I’m here and not there). But that didn’t stop me from putting on my GM cap and identifying 10 players that I’d pursue — or check in on, at the very least — ahead of the trade deadline if I were the Miami Heat and consolidated.
For this exercise, I tried my best to eliminate the obvious choices (everyone wants Giannis Antetokounmpo, duh!). Thus, we dug a little deeper for players — especially those who are either expiring (who we’d hypothetically try to re-sign) or have one more year left on their contracts.
Let’s dive into it!
(Editor’s note: This thought exercise was very hard … and subsequently very fun! A lot of the logistics to make these trades is way easier said than done. None of these names are in any sort of order based on want/need, either.)
Ayo Dosunmu, Bulls:
2025-26 Cap Hit: $7.6 million
Remaining years on contract: Expiring
Skinny: Dosunmu has been a Swiss Army Knife for Chicago. The price tag would likely be heftier than some of the other names on this list. But Dosunmu’s been unbelievably efficient and is a capable on-ball defender.
Keon Ellis, Kings:
2025-26 Cap Hit: $2.3 million
Remaining years on contract: Expiring
Skinny: We examined this in November. Kings are begging to give away Ellis, their best defender and one of their best 3-point shooters. He’s been stapled to the bench for reasons that remain unknown. Though that could lessen his price tag.
Quentin Grimes, 76ers:
2025-26 Cap Hit: $8.7 million
Remaining years on contract: Expiring
Skinny: Grimes took Philadelphia’s $8.7 million qualifying offer, which makes him an UFA this summer. He’s the third fiddle behind Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, and if the 76ers don’t plan on paying him, they should move him. He’s a high volume shooter (which the Heat need) and a quality defender.
Jaden Ivey, Pistons:
2025-26 Cap Hit: $10.1 million
Remaining years on contract: Expiring
Skinny: I don’t expect the Pistons to be big buyers. But they are about to become very expensive if they re-sign Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren. Ivey will be hitting restricted free agency this summer, and would give the Heat another capable creator, even though he’s still working his way back from multiple knee injuries.
Jock Landale, Grizzlies:
2025-26 Cap Hit: $2.3 million
Remaining years on contract: Expiring
Skinny: Amid injuries to Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke, Landale has filled in amicably in the Grizzlies’ frontcourt. He can space the floor and has a crafty offensive game inside the arc that would immediately raise the Heat’s floor behind Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware for 15-20 minutes per night.
Naji Marshall, Mavericks:
2025-26 Cap Hit: $9.0 million
Remaining years on contract: One year, $9.4 million
Skinny: This is the most unrealistic option because his price tag has probably skyrocketed. Marshall’s better suited to be a role player on a contender — not the Miami Heat. I’d still make the call to check in, however.
Bennedict Mathurin, Pacers:
2025-26 Cap Hit: $9.2 million
Remaining years on contract: Expiring
Skinny: If the Heat consolidate at least one of Norman Powell or Tyler Herro — which I do not expect (educated guess) — I’m calling the Pacers for Mathurin, who has built a very steady floor as a multi-level scorer. He’s on the chopping block and will be entering RFA this summer. But his skillset is redundant with those two aforementioned names, which makes his immediate fit murky.
Yves Missi, Pelicans:
2025-26 Cap Hit: $3.3 million
Remaining years on contract: Two years, $9.1 million
Skinny: Here’s another we’ve discussed recently. I was very high on Missi pre-draft, and he’s receiving buzz ahead of the deadline since he’s the odd man out in New Orleans’ frontcourt. He’s still raw both offensively and defensively. But Missi’s a monster offensive rebounder with good vertical spacing and shot-blocking.
Jalen Smith, Bulls:
2025-26 Cap Hit: $9.0 million
Remaining years on contract: One year, $9.4 million
Skinny: You could argue that Smith’s been the Bulls’ most impactful center this season. He’s averaging 11.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks over his last 14 games, turning into a rock solid bench big who can stretch the floor.
Guerschon Yabusele, Knicks:
2025-26 Cap Hit: $5.5 million
Remaining years on contract: One year, $5.6 million (player option)
Skinny: It has done anything but work for Yabusele in The Big Apple. He needs a new change of scenary. Perhaps it works in Miami. Perhaps it doesn’t. But he could help ignite the Heat’s frontcourt off the bench offensively; depending on the cost, it’s worth the flyer.
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Honorable Mentions:
- Luke Kennard, Hawks
- Devin Carter, Kings (we went over that here)
- Jake LaRavia, Lakers
- Goga Bitadze, Magic
- Scoot Henderson, Trail Blazers
- Malik Monk, Kings
- Anthony Black, Magic (ORL will say no)
- Jared McCain, 76ers
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Miami heat doesn’t want them
With all due respect, this list stinks. This is the Miami Heat! We used to add all-stars to this team! Now we’re talking about Jock Landale and Yves Messi?
Someone needs to wake up Pat Riley
what would this team look like with kd minus ware herro
Houston lite? Did I win something?
Probably better than an 8-seed for th 4th year in a row
Good job as these are all solid and realistic choices that would help a team and also not preclude a team from doing something else. And even though Marshall could be a little more than just a complimentary player, we need one of the bigs most. Yabusele would be worth taking a flyer on, as I feel he’s the most likely to be moved of the bigs and we only need him as a backup and he may be able to fulfill that need.
And, then we could do something even more impactful.
Yes I agree, he might be easiest to get, since he ain’t performing well for his current team, but I would love to get missi, or Jalen who are younger. Also goga is a decent option as well.
I would risk with Yabusele. That type of player is exactly what we need. Bitatze would be great, too, but I think he is not available.
I agree, Bitadze would be great and Yabusele worth a try. But I would be surprised if the Magic wanted to trade Bitadze. Anyway, we could even use both of them. The question is whether Spo would be open to the idea of using a player like these two. He often prefers to play small ball. I am not sure whether the primary reason is the fact we don’t have many servicable bigs or because he prefers small ball. I suspect the latter.
Spo tends to use players at unusual position. In past ten years, the normal was a stretch big playing 10-15 minutes a game. At least 3-4 players of such type were used in the past. If you noticed, both Bam and Jovic plays point, when Kas and Dru going for offensive rebounds. I woudnt call that small ball, I would call it a strange ball.
Anyway, for play off you need length and bulk. Ware, Jovic, Bam has length, but no bulk. Yabusale has that.
Yabusele is 6’7″ 265 lbs. He has a player option for next season ($5,775,000). Perfect size for ‘Bully Small Ball.”
Fontecchio for Yabusele and Pacome Dadiet, (rarely used 6’9″ SG drafted 25th in 2024). Dadiet’s contract has team options in 2026-2027 and 2027-2028.
Trade works on ESPN Trade machine.
We had discussed this one about a week ago. Rumor was Knicks would throw in a conditional pick they received that likely would turn into 2 second rounders. It would be a good deal.
Yup. Deep crop of players in this year’s draft.
dumbot no pt for vlad wata douche.but jovic who overall has been pretty bad gets chances after chances after chances
Heat already committed 4 years and $62.4M to Jovic. Like it or not, now they must play him…if for no other reason than to raise his value so he can be traded. The same with Herro, if he ever comes back. Not enough time for him to do anything to raise his value before the deadline. He can, however, come back and screw up the team’s chemistry, pace and ball movement.
herros already done that this year.looked it up jovic 38% 30% u want that night out night in .thats about as bad shooting % an nba can have before there glued to the pine career 43 35 not good either lets see what drus is whos very bad offensively but very good on d 41 31 this year.with drus d ok maybe 10 -15 mins but shnozzy needs to be switched out for a better player.i know it wont happen they have favorites the arisonbots and nikos there grand step son/keshad and goldin who would add bulk and athleticism not the arisonbots favs
If they a player sat $62.4M on the end of the bench for 4 years, you wouldn’t be happy either. They have no choice to play him until he finds his game. They’ve already invested to money.
dont give a f how much $ they payed him overall hes been bad give other players a chance or dont pay him he doesnt help he hurts the experiment is over
Herro not coming back til after trade deadline where for some reason he will still be here
This is a great breakdown of available players. Well done!
Heat need bigs…so Landale, Missi, Smith might be key cogs the team needs up front
Heat needs a rotation PF more than another C, to play alongside Bam or Ware. Bam can play either position but Ware is strictly a C.
what will that get us not much need a ss blew it again kd gets us pretty close