We’re less than one week away from the 2025 NBA Draft and less than two weeks away from free agency, which tips off on June 30 at 6 p.m. EST! The NBA Finals will be wrapping up on Sunday, but the real offseason fun is right around the corner!
As for the Miami Heat, they were mercifully swept out of the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was embarrassing–and a reality check for where this franchise is at. Changes are expected to be made, and one of those changes could be inserting 36-year-old Kevin Durant into the mix, as they have been directly afront his sweepstakes for the last several weeks.
However, should that be their primary route? Or should they go in a different direction? To me, while we know they’re always going to try and compete, in order to maximize their short- and long-term outlook, what they should do this offseason couldn’t be more obvious.
The Miami Heat should be acquiring assets and lean into their development, not the inverse:
Is Durant an all-time great? Yes! Is Durant still a really good basketball player when he’s available? Yes! Would he help the Heat become more competitive in the East? Also yes!
That said, pouring more assets into this cracked bucket–even for a player as good as Durant is, for a discounted price–wouldn’t be wise when multiple other moves would need to be made. Acquiring the aging star–who has a deep history of soft tissue injuries, which are more difficult to recover from at an older age–with follow-ups further depletes an already compromised war chest of assets … and at what cost?
Do the Heat still have assets of value? You could argue yes, but the value is in the eye of the beholder.
What if the Heat find another team not named the Phoenix Suns looking for cap relief? Or a team in need of shooting? Duncan Robinson could be an attractive asset for a rotation player and potentially a couple of second-round picks (possibly?). What could Haywood Highsmith (expiring) get you on the open market? Or Kyle Anderson? What kind of draft capital or young assets could you get for Andrew Wiggins? We saw what Desmond Bane could fetch–the Heat should be kicking the tires on exploring Tyler Herro’s market if they don’t extend him.
Again, the value and compensation are in the eye of the beholder. Nevertheless, the uncomfortable truth is that capitalizing on the market, when you’re devoid of assets, should be your primary goal if you’re in the position that the Heat are in.
For the most part, since Jimmy Butler arrived in the summer of 2019, the Heat have always found themselves in discussions–whether true or untrue–for acquiring more help (i.e., another star talent). The reason(s) were justifiable, since they made two Finals and three conference finals during his tenure. However, not only did they not have enough to climb over the mountaintop, but they never had enough to sit at the dinner table for acquiring another (super)star to place alongside Butler.
We all saw what happened after the Heat traded away Butler: They’re not close to contending.
Am I expecting the Heat to “re-tool” with a lean year? No. But should it be amid the circumstances, even in a slightly less competitive East? Yes.
Durant makes the Heat more watchable. He elevates the team’s offensive output, which has been a bottom-third unit for the last three years. Watching an all-time great donning red and black would be objectively awesome.
But we can also be honest about this team’s outlook, their direction and future.
If the Heat want to put themselves in conversations for a true star talent in the future, if you’re really the best developmental organization in the NBA, focus on acquiring and developing your young talent (Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson, Keshad Johnson), find ways to obtain more assets (draft capital, players on cost-controlled contracts) and buy low on players with legitimate potential.
While watching another play-in team may not be ideal, now is the perfect time to take one or two steps back to propel yourself forward, when you’ll be better positioned to take a swing on a star talent that aligns with Bam Adebayo’s timeline in the future instead of kicking that can down the road, when the future may really be bleak.
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OK, last one…for tonight.
Chicago; gets: Tyler Herro
Sacramento gets: Terry Rozier, Jaime Jaquez
Golden State gets: Andrew Wiggins
Miami gets from Chicago: Coby White & Zach Collins, from Sacto: DeMar De Rozen & Keon Ellis, from Golden State: Jonathan Kuminga (sign & trade for Wiggins)
1st team: Coby White, Demar DeRozan, Jonathan Kuminga, Bam, Ware
2nd team: Mitchell, Ellis,* Jovic, Johnson, Collins
3rd team: Larsson, Burkes, Anderson, Highsmith, Love
*Ellis is 25 year old reserve who has a 42.9% career 3pt average. If this trade is made Burks may not be needed.
Miami buys out Robinson, saves $10M.
Miami brings back Mitchell and Burkes
White and Collins on expiring contracts (White is expecting a big pay raise. $30M?). Ensure extension agreement’s terms are OK with both parties before completing trade.
Solid
Trades and the draft are getting closer.
*I am against including Ware or more than 1 draft pick in any Durant trade.
*If the Heat make the mistake of including Ware and the 2025 pick in the deal, it should include a pick swap in this draft with the Heat getting their #29. According to the most recent USA Today mock, players that may still be available at 29 include Wolf, Saraf, Penda, Thiero, and Kalkbrenner.
*I am okay with getting DeRozan, but NOT for a first round pick unless they include Devin Carter.
*Giving Herro anything near a max extension would be a HUGE mistake! And I like him more than a lot of people here.
*I strongly believe Wiggins and Duncan will be traded. Herro, Rozier, Jaquez, Jovic, SloMo, Highsmith, and (hopefully not) Ware may be traded.
*I would be surprised if Riley would accept a ‘gap year’, even though I agree that would be a logical way to go.
*I have stated I am not against a fair deal for KD, but I’d much rather see the Heat get Kuminga.
Excerpts from Yardbarker article: Miami Heat’s nightmare outcome for 2025 NBA Draft
“Suppose Miami overpays for Durant, sending out their only first-round pick, multiple young prospects, and future flexibility. In that case, they risk repeating the mistakes of teams that have gone all-in on aging stars. Durant, turning 37 in September, is still elite but increasingly injury-prone and nearing the twilight of his career. Trading for him could leave Miami with a gutted roster, minimal draft capital, and no clear path to reload once Durant’s window closes…
The 2025 NBA Draft represents a pivotal moment for the Miami Heat. Their nightmare outcome is not just about one bad pick, but a series of short-sighted decisions that further erode their flexibility and future. Whether it’s a costly trade for an aging star, sacrificing their pick for marginal improvement, or simply missing on draft night, the Heat must tread carefully. In a league that punishes impatience, the wrong move now could haunt Miami for years to come.”
there are no real dominant teams now ,no big 3.splash bros.okc is a flawed team so is indiana.okc no outside shooting.ind has 1 average big and no other bigs.get kd and demar we are pretty close.
Where does DeRozan play if Heat still has Mitchell, Herro, Wiggins, Bam and Ware? Off the bench?
dont care he gets 20pts a game efficiently with his eyes closed wiggins herro dunc will not be on team hopefully kd will be.a lineup of wig demar kd bam ware can challenge in the east with 2 wayers like nimhard nesmith mathiruin ind got them u get them sun.u work harder than pat
Who is your primary ball handler/PG type in your scenario (wig demar kd bam or ware)?
no wiggy hes 100% gone.dav smith hopefully jrue the oldest but best
If we must acquire a good player, why not try to acquire a good PG. There must be some good PGs out there even this year who are either free agents or trade-acquirable?
Priority no. 1.
Jaden Ivey is my dream scenario if they just got him and no one else I’d be elated, don’t want any player that has won a championship because they aren’t hungry enough anymore kd and to a lesser extent Giannis cause that 21 Giannis had LeBron 2012 level hunger not anymore and you can tell the difference
I don’t understand your obsession with Jaden Ivey in particular what do you see in him
i think hes a local kid with potential.he is obsessed with him
The way you are obsessed with KD. Jus sayin.
Like how your obsessed with kd an old over the hill player who couldn’t win with the suns….lmao
Idk maybe go on to your google/youtube search and type his name. Plenty of people have videos of him becoming a star player! Picked number 5 overall so he has the potential. I’m obsessed with Ivey yet some here are obsessed with Herro (lmfao) derozan an over the hill kd who couldn’t get it done with a better roster than the heat would have if they added him, and you obsessed with kuminga who can’t get off the bench in GS and is avg less points assist and they both avg the same amount of rebs as Ivey and he’s a guard.
https://youtu.be/fV0DaFrggDk?si=qa6EftCndoHunNuD
https://youtu.be/bdj4JU2pfEk?si=GUYjoYUZgT809LFZ
6’ 4” pg. 23 years old. This season 17.6 ppg, 41% 3p%. 2022 pick #5. A lot to like there. Needs to improve assist to TO ratio.
yes a core player for det not the heat.dets on the up mia on down thats sports cyclical
Coby White, Derrick White, Dejounte Murray and Nikola Topic are all good choices.
Herro for Coby White and Zach Collins (back-up PF/C)
Robinson and pick for Derrick White (Boston looking to shed salaries)
Herro for Murray straight up
Jovic and #20 for Topic
*Topic is a high-upside prospect with the potential to be a dynamic playmaker and scorer in the NBA. The Thunder are likely betting on his long-term potential, with the expectation that he will need time to develop his game and recover from his injury.
At 6-foot-6, Topic is a big guard who can get where he wants and makes the right play more often than not. He has excellent pace when driving to the basket, can finish with both hands and is a great distributor who looks like a veteran with the ball in his hands. Topic appeared confident shooting from the top of the key when opponents played drop coverage in pick-and-rolls, but his 3-point shooting needs to improve as he shot only 30% from deep in 2023-24. His frame suggests he can develop into a rangy defender who can disrupt passing lanes, but he needs to put on weight to become a capable one-on-one defender in the NBA.
bost has to have a gap year with jt injury,dw jb jt arent going anywhere.u reguard herro to high the league knows hes weak defensively.market value lower than suns market value.herro might get u bruce brown type player not murray sun
We need a good passer, or better said, pass first guard. I m note sure if he is that.
I m thinking more of the type of Lonzo Ball, Giddey, even Simmons.
jrue holiday avail sunman knows that im sure dont want trae or lemelo either does sunman
Jrue over the hill. See my suggestions above.
believe he was hurt during playoff run .when u play with jt jb dw your option 4 ,youd take mitch over jrue i wouldnt
I would take Derrick White over Holiday. Cheaper, younger and better.
cheaper younger yes better up until last year no.we shall see jrue this year when hes 100% healthy.jrue is avail dw not
we can have kd if we give up ware.im against that,only thing ware looked lost at times when playing with bam.i dont want a guy that tall around the 3pt line.i think if kd went to sas they could win a chip.houst not quite there with kd.anyway this is a panthers town now they have replaced the heat as the hot team down here
“Durant makes the Heat more watchable. He elevates the team’s offensive output, which has been a bottom-third unit for the last three years. Watching an all-time great donning red and black would be objectively awesome.
But we can also be honest about this team’s outlook, their direction and future.
If the Heat want to put themselves in conversations for a true star talent in the future, if you’re really the best developmental organization in the NBA, focus on acquiring and developing your young talent (Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson, Keshad Johnson), find ways to obtain more assets (draft capital, players on cost-controlled contracts) and buy low on players with legitimate potential.
While watching another play-in team may not be ideal, now is the perfect time to take one or two steps back to propel yourself forward, when you’ll be better positioned to take a swing on a star talent that aligns with Bam Adebayo’s timeline in the future instead of kicking that can down the road, when the future may really be bleak.”
I absolutely, unequivocally agree with these statements. Miami is not currently in a position to compete in the East with or without Durant. Therefore, the focus should be on trading pieces that do not fit who are on multi-year contracts (Herro and Wiggins), and trading, if possible, or allowing contracts to expire for Rozier, Robinson, Anderson, Highsmith and Love. This would give Miami a solid core to build around (Bam, Mitchell plus young players on rookie contracts (Ware, Jovic, Jaquez, Johnson and possibly Smith), plus 2025 and 2026 draft picks, plus considerable salary flexibility for free agents as the result of saving $65+M in expiring contracts.
With this core, plus whatever quality two-way players and draft picks can be obtained by trading Herro and Wiggins and possibly others, plus the salaries saved from expiring contracts, next summer, Miami should be in a position to quickly assemble a new, improved, younger and more athletic team. It would also give Miami time to further evaluate and make determinations regarding the suitability of players on rookie contracts and G Leaguers.
Bottom line: Miami must make use the coming gap year to clean house and develop a path for future success. Anything less would only be a denial of the reality of the direction of the new NBA and further attempts to avoid or at minimum, delay the inevitable, years of mediocrity. That would be like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic or putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound. There is no time like the present to grab the bull by the horns and be in control of the team’s destiny rather than a victim of management’s poor planning.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR IMPULSIVE OR IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION DECISIONS! IT IS THE TIME FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING!
who are the core players bam ware who the f else.this is the titanic right now.
Jury is out on Jovic, Jaquez, Johnson, Larsson, and Smith. Herro and Wiggins can be traded together or separately for two players who will add to the team. Just off the top of my head, Dejounte Murray and Zion Williamson. I’m sure there are many others.
At this point, if this is the Titanic, it’s time to change course before the whole thing goes down, not with a bang…but a whimper. The only way to bring in young, athletic, two-way players that you and others have been screaming for is to get of a bunch of new players and rebuild as quickly as possible. If that happens, players around the league are going to be climbing over each other trying to play for Miami.
hfl says jjj jovic larson are not athletic or skillfull enough to be ballers on a good team on the mediocre heat might be bench players .keshod not sure hes got the athleticism not sure skill level.smith looked the part last time but always gets hurt so hes useless if he cant stay healthy.
Any other optimistic observations Miss Sunshine? Have a little patience. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Life has it’s ups, it’s downs and periods that are stagnant and stuck in the middle going nowhere.
In life, you either sit and wallow in your self imposed misery or you figure out the best course of action to improve your circumstances. But you don’t sacrifice tomorrow for today. That is very short sighted and you pay for it later. Ask Phoenix, Philly and others who have failed after gutting their teams.
The team is growing younger right before our eyes. With two new draft picks (if Riley doesn’t give them away), several expiring contracts and possible upgrades made as the result of trades made until the trade deadline, Miami should be in a very good position to make some serious upgrades…in a year. Meanwhile, don’t sweat it.
Some people don’t like Ira, and I disagree with him a fair amount of times, but he nailed it on his response to a negative writer.
Which brings us to when Pat Riley had insisted there only were winning and misery, that it was championship or bust. And that, frankly, is an awful way to live one’s sporting life, that unless you win the final game of the season it isn’t worth it. So, yes, if that is the lone sense of joy received from sports, then the Heat should blow it up, tank for years to come, and then, like the Thunder/Sonics organization, wait 46 years for a championship (the Sonics won in 1979, eventually moving to OKC in 2008). Or you can enjoy the rides. For as much as it crashed and burned for the Cavaliers in the second round, it’s not as if there wasn’t plenty to savor amid their 64-18 regular season. Championship-only fandom is a largely miserable existence.
under riley except for a couple lean years thought we could win a chip almost every year.with his love for whitesiders and onewayers hes lost his magic.just want a competitive team so i can enjoy eric every night (kd).after all sports is entertainment.just make the movie(kd) every night enjoyable
Haha, I see you recognized yourself there.
Praying that Pat Riley is just masterclassing this and making the Rockets pay more while quietly exploring Tyler, finding Duncan offloads, examining Kuminga, and prepping to sign Burks + Mitchell
Agree. Hopefully, Riley will use logic and common sense, rather than ego and impulsiveness to ensure the team’s competitive viability for years to come.
This was a really well written article that articulates my thoughts pretty much, except better than I can.
The funny thing is that KD’s value is dropping to where reports say he wouldn’t cost us three picks, but only one. But, it would cost Wiggins, Ware, and probably Robinson, so it’s still questionable. But, if the value goes down anymore, to where it doesn’t include Ware, and still only one pick, maybe you consider it.
Still, like our writer explains, getting KD would still require other moves, or why risk it?. And by acquiring him and another top player then you could make us competitive, but only maybe second round of playoffs competitive. And you use up even more of our few assets to do so. In other words, we are still better off passing on the KD deal.
The counter to this is hfl’s position that we could be mediocre for ten years, and that is a concern too. But, taking everything into account, passing on KD, but making a few trades ( Herro, maybe a few others) and drafting well and developing what we have is the better percentage move.
I agree. I tried to summarize my feelings (and plan) above.