The 2025 offseason is a big one for the Miami Heat.
Nearly three months after trading Jimmy Butler in a five-team blockbuster, they finished with their worst record in a decade and were embarrassed in the first round of the postseason against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
They have been a play-in team for the last three regular seasons, but it’s now it’s time to pick a direction as we transition into a new phase. According to former 15-year NBA veteran and three-time champion Danny Green, the direction is clear: Swing for the fences and go for a star.
“They don’t have much to give,” Green said. “But their best bet is to try and find a big star in the offseason. People were talking about Kevin Durant. They hope that the Bucks lose, and [Giannis Antetkounmpo] wants out. Obviously, [Damain Lillard] is hurt–now, that’s a guy that they were trying to get before who is going to be out for next season. The only guys they really can get are Giannis and KD. … But it’s hard to get Giannis with the pieces you have. Milwaukee is not going to want Terry Rozier or Davion Mitchell. It seems impossible because they’re going to have to give up Bam Adebayo or Tyler Herro.”
The worst kept secret in the NBA is that Durant’s likely played his last game in Phoenix, who missed the playoffs entirely and will have their fourth head coach in four years. He has just one more year left on his deal ($54.7M), but will eligible for a two-year extension worth over $120 million.
Antetokounmpo’s future with Milwaukee is less concrete. Damian Lillard will likely miss the entirety of the season with a torn achilles; Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince and Brook Lopez will all be free agents; Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr. and Pat Connaughton all have player options. They’re old and look very different.
Antetokounmpo still has three more years left on his contract worth $54.1M, $58.5M and $62.8M (player option), respectively. He’s easily going to command a larger haul than Durant. To acquire the 30-year-old superstar, the Heat would likely have to trade Bam Adebayo (among several others)–which would be a problem because Antetokounmpo would probably want to play with him.
Acquiring Durant is more feasible. However, as I outlined in the offseason preview, I don’t think that’s a route the Heat should go–which is where I differ from Green, respectfully. You make a move for Durant in the latter stages of his career if you’re one piece away.
While Miami underperformed with the sum of its parts this season, Miami’s far more than one piece away. It was at least one piece away with Jimmy Butler, why would that be any different without. Any move for the 37-year-old Durant would gut the team of any sustainable supporting cast and future assets when its ceiling doesn’t match that of Boston or Cleveland–the two teams you need to get past in the East. Building a top-heavy roster also limits you to a 2-3 year window, which wouldn’t make sense to limit yourselves to if you’re not a contender. The Heat wouldn’t be with Durant.
Antetokounmpo is a different case study, but I don’t see a world where they can acquire him. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!
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- 2024-25 Miami Heat Player Review: Alec Burks
- 2024-25 Miami Heat Player Review: Kyle Anderson
- 2024-25 Miami Heat Player Review: Bam Adebayo
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- Report: Heat assistant Chris Quinn earns second interview for Suns coaching search
- Report: Heat rival could get in mix for Kevin Durant
chales barkley is great pn tv but he should stop picking which team is gonna win.
i hope pat at least tried to get russ if not hes clueless
I like him
99 66 WTF james hardens team has to have 66.
Thinking outside the box 101. For discussion purposes only! Don’t kill the messenger!
Presumption #1
Miami intends to allow the following contracts to expire at the end of 2025-2026:
Rozier: $26,643,031
Anderson: $9,219,512
Highsmith: $5,616,000
Love: $4,150,000
Total: $45.6M
Presumption #2
Miami does not intend to keep Robinson beyond 2025-2026, when the final year of his contract. It is worth $19,888,000, if Miami chooses to keep him. However, his contract contains a clause allowing Miami to opt out of the final year and pay him a reduced amount of $9,888,000.
Presumption #3
Miami intends to use it’s starting players (Ware, Bam, Wiggins, Herro and Mitchell) as well as Burks and give priority minutes in the rotation to players on rookie contracts (Jovic, Jaquez, Larsson, Johnson, 2025 draft pick) and one or more of it’s two-way players (Smith, Stevens and Christopher). Consequently, Rozier, Anderson, Highsmith, Love and Robinson (if he is retained) will be riding the bench.
Option #1
Attempt to trade the four players on expiring contracts, plus Robinson, before the start of the 2025-2026 season. Rather than trying to land a whale, Miami should look for teams willing to give up assets (young players and draft picks) for any of the veterans they expect to include in their rotations. In this scenario, Robinson, Highsmith, and Anderson are more likely to be tradeable than Rozier and Love.
Option #2
For any of the four players on expiring contracts for which there is no trade interest, offer them buyouts at 50% of their guaranteed salaries. This would give them an opportunity to sign with other teams before the start of the season and allow Miami to save $27.8M.
Option #3
Buyout Robinson’s contract for $9,888,000 and save an additional $10,000,000.
Outlook for the future
By following the preceding plan, in 2025-2026, Miami could save money, acquire assets and allow their younger players (including their 2025 draft pick) opportunities to continue developing and acquiring valuable experience. This transitional season could result in Miami not making the 2026 play-in tournament, thus becoming eligible for a 2026 lottery pick.
By the summer of 2026, Miami could be in an excellent position to move forward with it’s rebuild and have money and assets that can be used to pursue an A+ or A player. Furthermore, if it is willing to trade trade Bam, Herro, Wiggins and/or Ware, Miami could conceivably be able to acquire more than one A+ or A player.
Rather than dreading a long offseason, Miami fans should be viewing it with much anticipation and optimism.
GO HEAT!!!
The best way forward for sure.
Thanks Vagi. I think it’s the best way forward, unless trades can be made that will improve the team while not negatively impacting it’s overall ability to shed expiring contracts. Meanwhile, here’s a few hypothetical trades to chomp on. Just throwing them out there for discussion purposes only.
Wiggins and Larsson ($29.2) for RJ Barrett ($27.7M)
Herro, Highsmith and Jovic ($36.7M) for Ja Morant ($36.7M)
Herro, Wiggins, Ware and Jaquez ($63.9M) for Sabonis and DeRozan ($63.2M)
Wiggins and Jaquez ($29.62M) for Dejounte Murray ($29.53M)
Jaquez, Jovic, Larsson ($7.3M plus pick) for Jaden Ivey ($7.97M)
Wiggins, Anderson and Larsson ($36.2M) for Michael Porter Jr ($35.9M)
We should use Herro, Bam and young players only in trades for better players. Young players can be added to trades which dups veteran contracts.
“And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.”
~ Khalil Gibran ~
“And think not you can direct the course of a whale, for a whale, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.”
~ Sunman ~
Translation: As long as the Heat is not worthy, there will be no whale on the horizon.
If Golden State loses Game 7 after being up 3-1, their season will be a bigger failure than Miami’s. Playoff eliminations sting much more when you are projected to challenge for the title and wind up choking in the first round instead. I noticed Kuminga was out ill for Game 6. He must have read Jimmy Butler’s bestseller: The Art of Quiet Quitting.
if curry has an off night which is few and far between gsw has no shot.i just need one more of those on sunday please
dont think so when u set the record for losing by the most ever in playoff series u are a friggin joke.as long as curry and jimmy are balling they are miles ahead of ty n bam
Jimmy Butler trying to win a Game-7 on the road. Duncan Robinson ain’t walking through that door
FAST TRACK REBUILD
This is not a time for desperation or impulsive moves in order for Riley to save face. It’s a time for restraint, contemplation and strategic preparation for the future.
By the summer of 2026, Miami could have the following:
Prior to the 2026-2027 season, Miami could conceivably have a solid 8-9 man rotation. It could also have cap space for one A+ or A player who could be acquired as an unrestricted or restricted free agent, via straight up trade or via a sign & trade. One or more of the younger players could be included in a trade package for an A+ or A player or in trades for other players. Furthermore, anyone (with the possible exceptions of Bam or Ware) can be up for discussion if the right opportunity comes along.
The bottom line is Miami is the master of it’s own destiny. Management has all the ingredients needed to turn the ship around by 2026-2027. If it doesn’t, it may take years for the team to fully recover and again be relevant in the NBA.
Great assessment. I would like to add some comments.
I would move Mitchell in the backup point guard role position, but playing him big minutes so I believe we need a starting point guard, a one year rental. CP3, Tyus Jones, Scroder, Simmons, Vincent comes to my mind.
Then I would play Jovic, Pelle, JJJ and one or two of two others heavy minutes from the bench. No vets from bench allowed.
Getting rid of vets will be a long process, which will bring other players back and not much other. So Heat will need to be smart with that. I believe most of those vets will sit out their contracts on the Heats bench.
Thanks. You triggered a few thoughts.
I would let Mitchell, Smith and Stevens compete for starting PG and keep one as a back-up. Third can play in Sioux Falls. If Miami picks up an A+/A PG, then keep one (or maybe 2) as back-up. The Heat should not trade for a point guard who will only be taking away valuable playing time from the 3 above. The objective of 2025-2026 is not to win as many games as possible and fight for another play-in spot, but to shed salaries and provide experience to our younger players.
Only vet I would routinely use, other than starters, when needed/appropriate is Burks.
Heat can work out buyouts for vets, trade them or let them sit until next year when their contracts expire. At least 3 of them are tradeable for a crappy player on an expiring contract (who will sit at end of the bench) and a second rounder, at minimum.
Lmao great assessment huh? Basically running it back for year 7 huh. No that’s not the only option what about rebuilding trading herro and bam for younger pieces and before you bash that idea, they both were on a team that got blew tf out by 55 in a close out game set the record for franchise playoff losses by points…..also one was a focal point of the other teams gameplan to attack lmao
Hothothoopsfan4life…King of the Trolls
hes ok sun his points are spot on
Only when they agree with you
Just like y’all agree with Sunman like everything he says is golden. No refuting what I said just name calling. He wants to basically run it back for a 7th season while banking on 2026 like who knows what can happen by then! What if the major players from that 26 FAs resign for another deal with their current teams this year? What if they are traded this summer? Why not trade your two players that bring you back the most value rn? I mean I saw 13 and 14 on the court quitting that last game while they were blown out and only 1 player bothered to show up. I also heard Darius garland say out his own mouth that the cavs gameplan was to attack a sorry defender in herro! I’d rather rebuild than watch those two step foot on the heats court again. Preach about it’s not in Riley’s dna and culture but lose by 37 and 55 points in the last two games of the season again setting a franchise playoff losses record btw. Y’all have no rebuttals just name calling and a willingness to run it back for an unpredictable future gamble lmao. Cause they gonna wanna play with those two who they just saw lose by said deficit?
tyler lets in as many as he scores.bams top 5 defender but when is he going to up his offensive game is it because he cant or just lack of effort or caring to be great.hes a frustrating player bam we saw glimpses of shake n bake bam for a few weeks but them back to being bam.bam def has value herro doesnt i believe
Why would you respond to me saying ‘y’all agree with Sunman…..’? Maybe if you read my comments you’d see how many times SM and I disagree on something. When we do, we do so cordially. We accept our different opinions. You also know I have agreed with you on some points. Whatever other’s positions may be, suggesting that I always agree with anyone here is just bulls**t.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/b_-ROn8ak5M
makes alot of good pts rc
As long as they agree with you. And I have agreed with him. He and I were both for getting the lottery pick. You said fk lottery picks.
Huh?
Even a broken clock is right two times a day. Like my ex-wife, it’s not always what he says, it’s how he says it. Talk to him privately heat and let him know how you were able to overcome the habit. Oh wait.
hes a little negative but after that cleve series he has right to be,the only thing i disagree with hot hoops is taking shots at u.dude sounds like he knows hoops but is he truly a heat fan is what id like to know
All true Heat fans want is for the team to be successful. We all have different and evolving opinions on the best way(s) for the team to succeed.
I probably post the most detailed comments and can understand why someone would not agree with everything I post. Some of it relates to articles I’ve seen (which I don’t always agree with) and some are my own personal thoughts and opinions. It’s all to help trigger thoughts, comments and opinions by HHH followers.
My posts are not meant to be an invitation for personal attacks. When that happens, I have a tendency of responding in-kind. As you have seen, I can be a little rough on people who think they can get away with unprovoked attacks without consequences and repercussions.
Yes, they got blew out this season. But they were in NBA finals and east finals not that long ago. So, they cant be that bad.
I m not saying, that they shouldn’t be traded. I m saying, they they should be traded for better players, not young players or picks. We already have enough of those.
Tyler didn’t play in the finals and tbh bam the only player who showed up during that finals I’ll give you that, but it’s a what have you done for me lately league and where do we have enough young athletic players or picks? We don’t have the assets besides those two and ware which they shouldn’t trade
We will have Jovic, JJJ, Pelle, Ware, Johnson, Stevens, Christopher, and draftee under 25. Thats a lot young players to develop. None of them is finished product, they need to play another season at least to see what we have there.
I dont think we need more, unless there a better young players available to replace them.
Three, maybe four of those will form a young core moving forward, or be used in trades for a whale.
Exactly. We can always use younger, better players. We also need the time to fully develop and evaluate them to determine if they have long-term potential.
It makes sense to trade the players who are on expiring contracts in 2025-2026, if possible. It also makes sense to play the youngsters, to the extent possible. Meanwhile, we have a draft pick in 2025 and another in 2026 who will need to be developed and evaluated.
Miami should know by next summer which of it’s current young core it wants to keep, trade or release. This is an evolving process that should hopefully begin showing positive results in 2025-2026.
So many people thought Butler was just washed or injury prone. Even in a loss, his 27/9/8 and his hustle and energy tonight and since he went to the Warriors shows how deliberate his poor effort here was.
disgusting what a pos he is.just tell pat u want out but in the meantime bust it.how can any of his teammates respect him.i hope they lose game 7.btw in the 4th qtr he was gassed missing everything rc
I agree. If he said he wanted out privately before the season, we could’ve gotten a lot more for him.
He’s also limping around the court in a first round series.
I remember the Finals run from the 7-seed when he was amazing against Milwaukie. He got injured against he Knicks and limped through the rest of the playoffs. Caleb Martin was the MVP of the ECF, whether he won the award or not.
I also remember him getting hurt during the play-in against the Sixers, and missing the playoff series against the Celtics. He also missed most of last season, which was a big reason the Heat were in the play-in to begin with.
I remember Riley saying that if he wanted a max extension, he was worth it, he just needed to prove he could stay on the court. Then he missed most of this season with injuries and suspensions.
So yeah, he’s playing well. But he’s hurt, and he’s limping, and it’s just round 1. I’ll never question his skill or his heart. But I do question his ability to stay healthy. So does Riley. That’s why he didn’t want to give Jimmy a max extension
It is true that Riley said he needed to be on the court for the majority of games. From that point, I guess we see it differently. I suggested the Heat consider trading him in February 2024. My observation was that Butler was not playing with effort or, as you say, heart. To me, there were many times he seemed disinterested out there. As if, as many people felt, that he would just turn it on in the playoffs. It turned out, they ended up again as the 8th seed, Butler unfortunately got injured, and we were run out of the first round. Then he exacerbated things by making dumb comments about the Celtics and Knicks. The Riley public comments after the 2023-24 season admittedly made things worse. But Riley told him and his agent the same thing about availability the previous season (2022-23). Between not getting the extension the previous season, and Riley’s comments, he was upset and was sleepwalking even when healthy prior to the trade. As hfl and others noted, once he went to GS, it seemed he had suddenly found the fountain of youth.
It’s called money + extension + someone willing to kiss his @$$!
He will loose his joy next season.
lose
*chales barkley*
Charles
steven adams impacting game big time
Better coach rn udoka or spo up for debate if you ask me
depends on the players u give them.houston has young studs .2 bigs.theyve suked forever id hate to go thru all those lean years
We can discuss after Udoka wins a couple of titles. Until then, it’s not even close. He could have already had two in Boston, but that is another matter all together.
Bam Adebayo is set to make $202.4 million over the next four years with the Heat:
2025-26: $37.1 million
2026-27: $51 million
2027-28: $55.1 million
2028-29: $59.2 million (player option)
wow
I can tell you with 100% certainty that the Blazers would pay that in a heartbeat
So would at least half the teams in the NBA.
bams a nice complimentary player.hes paid like a ss which hes not.good player bad contract.thats how u get in trouble overpaying guys
There are a ton of guys in the NBA getting paid more than they are worth. Not many of them are better defenders, more versatile or better for team chemistry than Bam. Likewise, there are a ton of players being underpaid (mostly still on rookie contracts).
Note: This coning season Bam is being underpaid @ $37,096,620. You can argue he will be overpaid beginning in 2026-2027 when his extension kicks in @ $51,935,268, with $56,090,089 in 2027-2028 and $60,244,920 in 2028-2029. Who knows, if the right trade comes along, he could be gone before then.
It’s the going rate these days. He would get that anywhere, so it’s not actually a bad contract. Teams are now looking at extensions at about $70 million per season.
I am reading all the comments and I agree that the most prudent approach is the 2026 free agency period. However, I think Riley will try to do something this offseason. We have more assets than some may think. Three tradable first round picks plus Bam, Herro, Wiggins. Expiring contracts. They may already be on the phone with Phoenix, Milwaukee, and other teams who are done playing.
Again, it’s not that I disagree. I just don’t see Riley accepting another season like this one.
I partially agree with you. my only hesitation to agree 100% is because that’s what we all said at the end of last season
I think this is different. At the end of last season, we still technically had Butler, our A level player. We had Rozier, who had been coming on in the weeks before his injury and scoring 16 ppg overall. At that point, a little tweak or 2 might have been enough. If Butler played this season for us like he is playing for GS, we probably would be no lower than the 4-6 seed. This season needs a total overhaul.
after that 57pt beatdown who the f is gonna want to come here,dwade no longer here to recruit for us
For the reasons we’ve explained to you about a million times and won’t be repeated again by me.
guys go ring hunting not beach hunting
If it’s a trade, the players don’t have much choice.
only guy teams would want bam overrated ab
Nope
There’s really no need to speculate. In the next couple of weeks, we’ll know for sure.
I’ll just add this quote to the list…
only guy teams would want bam
It will be Lakers-Cavs in the finals
Herro will never be an all star
etc etc.
Let the excuses begin. 😀
u were high on dunc from day 1.u think guys want to come here now i wish they did but no
I looked forward to seeing Rozier contribute. That didn’t work out either.
And, btw, I was not against Duncan, but was against that contract from the beginning.
anybody who didnt like the rozier signing is either lying or not heat fan.if he played to his standard we might still have quitter ands still be playing right now.im still spo scratching my head as to what happened to the gambler.
Maybe it has something to do with this? The federal investigation into Terry Rozier is currently ongoing. The Wall Street Journal reported on January 30, 2025, that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is investigating unusual betting patterns surrounding Rozier’s performance in a 2023 game. Rozier has not been charged with a crime, and the NBA previously investigated and found no rule violations. The NBA is cooperating with the federal investigation.
heat culture ? play with ss? win a ring? which one i forgot
Haha,
guys came here to play with d wade period end of story rc.why d wades not in fo with sunman is a mickey scratcher
I superstar wont pick a team which just lose for 50 in the PO. Heat needs so me basic infrastructure first, then a superstar. Greek is that, KD is not.
u put antman on heat i might meet rc this summer in july..well maybe not this summer but in 26 27 good chance
I agree with your assessments Matt, exactly. With Lillard hurt so badly, Milwaukee is maybe not so much of a great spot for Giannis and for the first time, it’s viable that he might leave. Still, there are ten teams that can offer a better situation than us. We would never get him, and I agree, he is that one player amongst maybe five others who it would be worth whatever we could do to get him.
Our answers to getting back into contention won’t come that easy, unless Riley conjure’s up some of that old magic he used to possess.
LoL. what a brilliant take. You think the Heat should try to get Giannis. No wonder they put him on TV. This guy is playing 4-D chess.
Realistically, the Heat don’t have the trade chips for a guy like Giannis. If they really want to do a move like that, they need to trade Bam and Herro for draft picks and expiring contracts, build through the draft, and just try to keep adding Ware and Jaquez level players until the next superstar becomes available. I doubt they go that route, but that’s the only way to do it if you are serious about trading for a true superstar.
Otherwise, I don’t hate the idea of trading a couple picks and a couple young guys for KD. I’m not sure that makes the Heat a title contender, but they will at least be a respectable playoff team again
Pop is retiring. NBA coaches can be traded for draft picks but not players.If Riley decided not to retire, I wonder if there is room to trade Spo to San Antonio for a couple of first rounders. Quinn or one of the other coaches can be promoted or an experienced NBA coach like Malone can be brought in to fill the position.Just thinking out loud outside the box. Please don’t crucify me.
theyd want prime wade bron bosh also
Pop no longer coaching the spurs going into team president role (basically staying with the times giving way to new younger fresher coaches and ideas) and here we are stuck with an older gm instead of copying what the spurs and the Celtics have done and other teams are doing but Mia wants to continue to push a bs culture mantra. Mia here comes irrelevancy and it’s not going to be pretty
i do agree irrelevancy is coming.
When are we going to hear from our GM?
Heat don’t have any of the cards. The cupboard is bare. Not enough talent or draft picks to move. Who would want any of that? Get real !
We are in a difficult situation with a lot of obstacles, apron concerns, little draft capital, difficult to move contracts, huge weaknesses in the lineup, and maybe even an undesirable landing spot (that can change quickly but I believe we are not the destination of choice right now). Hard to see any easy directions to take.
No clue why I’m bothering to read this article it’s never gonna happen
brunson was not going to be denied.last night bam needs a little of that in him.this guy just disappears in crunch time..dav has that dawg in him.just not bams dna.i think in basketball all the ss have that dawg in them.differentiates them between them and players like bam.
Brunson is special. That guy has some skills.
maybe youll change your mind by then
Miami will be in a much better financial position to swing for the fences after 2025-2026 than before. The Heat must first get rid of players who aren’t in the teams long term plans.
Yes, the 25/26 season should be a consolidation and young players developing season to create a core, which can support a superstar coming in Miami.
That’s if we take the most intelligent approach. Lets hope we do.
so should 31 other teams
The NBA only has 30 teams….
His mind is already on football season. NFL has 32 teams.
panthers sun on my sports mind dolphins suk like heat marlins, heat .need a new innovative bright mind to fix this mess any name pop(ovich) up 2 u.i have one but hes retired living the good life in san diego where the weather is nice but the town has only one sports team
My team is the Caps (my son who lives in Baltimore/D.C. area is a big fan). We got him a couple of jerseys for his birthday. One is 50th anniversary black one. It’s bitching. Maybe Caps/Panthers will meet in the Eastern Finals. He’s a big Tom Wilson fan.
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la chargers fan ?
Ravens. Don’t dislike L.A. teams. Hate Cowboys and New England.