Last week, reports surfaced that the Phoenix Suns were having conversations with guard Bradley Beal regarding a potential buyout. Beal, who turned 32-years-old in June, currently possesses one of the most untradeable contracts in the NBA, given his injury history, productivity, impact and no-trade clause woven into his $251 million max contract.
With two years left on his deal, there lies the possibility that the two sides go their separate ways–with the Heat reportedly having interest in the 6-foot-4 guard. However, Miami acquired Norman Powell from the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday in a three-team, four-player trade. While the Miami Heat opened up a roster spot at a very inexpensive price, their latest move likely signals they are no longer in the Beal “sweepstakes,” barring significant changes.
Heat could (likely) be out on Bradley Beal after Norman Powell acquisition:
Miami entered Monday with all 15 roster spots allocated for, including $5.5 million below the luxury tax, $11.1 million below the first apron and $23 million below the second apron.
Though as a result of adding Powell, it is now over $1 million above the luxury tax, $4 million below the first apron (where it’s hard-capped) and $15.8 million below the second apron. He also added to the collection of expiring contracts they are hoarding, including Terry Rozier, Haywood Highsmith and newly-acquired Simone Fontecchio.
Beal is still an efficient scorer, when healthy, averaging 17.6 points on 50.5/40.7/80.8 shooting splits alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker each of the last two seasons.
All that said, Beal, in any hypothetical, would likely garner a big(ger) role, adding more redundancy to a rotation that already includes Tyler Herro and Powell–unless the Heat are willing to move off of either.
While the plan was always to go young, Miami needed an external source of shooting to help maximize its young core of Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and rookie Kasparas Jakucionis. Powell’s one of the best shooters in the NBA, having canned over 40 percent of his long-range attempts each of the last five seasons. He’s also a more cohesive fit than Beal, considering he can play both on- and off-ball and is an impactful point-of-attack defender.
There’s a lot that can change over the next several months, but I do not see the fit with Beal, Powell and Herro together. And I’m unsure the Heat do, either, barring something unforeseen.
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It is clear Miami is accumulating expiring contracts that can be unloaded before the trade deadline. Wiggins, Rozier, Powell and Highsmith total $81M in salaries. Wiggins has a player option in 2026-2027, which he is likely to decline. Herro is due $33M in 2026-2027. If Miami is not willing to give him a max extension ($3 years/$150M) and he is unwilling to accept less, he can also be traded. That is a total of $114M in salaries.
That leaves a core group of Bam, Mitchell, Ware, Jaquez, Jovic, Larsson, Johnson, Jakucionis and the 2026 draft pick. All but Bam and Mitchell will be on rookie contracts. Note: Jaquez, Jovic and Johnson’s contracts have team options in 2025-2026 and Larsson’s 2025-2026 salary is not fully guaranteed. Ware’s contract is guaranteed for 2025-2026 but 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 are not.
Bottom line, the only players currently with guaranteed contracts after 2025-2026 are: Bam, Mitchell, Herro and Wiggins (if he hasn’t been traded and chooses not to opt out in 2026-2027). If there was ever a time to have a fire sale and accumulate young talent and draft picks, this is the year to do it.
On the other hand, if Miami is going to attempt to quickly turn the team into an elite competitor, two or more of the young players will need to elevate their games substantially. Furthermore, several players will need to be traded and difference makers will need to be brought in to replace them. That is not an easy task, considering today’s crazy NBA salaries.
It will be interesting to see in what direction Arison and Riley decide to go.
Beal shouldnt be an option for Heat. Its not just his contract, and non trade clause, the problem is also his health. Leave aside, if he is still a better player then Herro, for example. I believe he is not.
I love Tyler Herro. I think he’s a very good, but not excellent, player as a shooting guard or a sixth man. His supposed bad defense isn’t that bad and his offense can be spectacular at times. He has definite value in this league.
But, he is also the player we should trade for two reasons, extending and paying his new contracts higher numbers is not worth it. And two, we have enough players like him and he will bring something good of value back, maybe at a position where we need more help, a two way wing, 6’7” or a little taller.
I like Ty, appreciate him, but I can see this is our best next move.
Along with Wiggins, who I know you like (I do too, but I wonder about his fit), I agree Herro is another logical trade candidate, and I completely agree with your assessment of him.