The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have sent a shockwave around the rest of the NBA. They’re (hundreds of) miles away from the majority of the pack, including the Miami Heat.
Miami has done a poor job managing and accumulating assets over the last several years, leaving itself little breathing room for star chasing, a path it won’t think twice about choosing.
But where do they rank among the rest of the league?! Former NBA executive and current front office insider Bobby Marks ranked them, and the Heat aren’t in a favorable position.
ESPN gives the Miami Heat a below-average placement in latest asset rankings:
In his annual asset rankings column, former front-office executive and current front-office insider Bobby Marks organized all 30 teams into seven tiers. Miami was one of four teams in Tier 4, as well as the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks.
“Even though Terry Rozier is no longer on the roster, the trade to acquire the guard from Charlotte continues to play a role in the Heat’s draft future,” Marks wrote. “Miami will send Charlotte its 2027 pick, top-14 protected. It becomes unprotected in 2028 if not conveyed. Including the 13th pick in this year’s draft (allowed to move the night of the draft), Miami is allowed to trade a 2031 and 2033 first.”
Marks also noted that the Heat will have a few pick swaps from 2029-33 that they can maneuver in the years they don’t trade their firsts outright.
Does this mean anything in Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes?
We are still awaiting Antetokounmpo’s official trade request away from the only place he’s called home. But the breadcrumbs suggest he will be moved by the 2026 NBA Draft, which begins on June 23.
The value will be in the eye of the beholder. But from a pick capital perspective, the Heat have as many as a few of their East counterparts — namely the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Orlando Magic, who traded four first-round picks for Desmond Bane last summer. Not all of those teams will pursue the two-time MVP as much as the Heat, per se, but that matter should a bidding war arise. The Celtics can trade three firsts, the Knicks can only trade two first-round picks (No. 24 overall, 2033) with access to seven second-rounders and the Magic can only trade one.
Neither have quite the crop of young players the Heat have, but their best assets are arguably better than Kel’el Ware, the Heat’s top asset not named Bam Adebayo (who they aren’t moving). That said, among those ranked above Miami are the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors. And those teams have a strong crop of young talent and draft capital it can yield for Antetokounmpo — or another disgruntled star in the future.
At the end of the day, what matters most is 1.) what the Bucks value and 2.) More importantly, where Antetokounmpo wants to actually play basketball. But the Heat will unquestionably have steep competition.
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Vegas has odds on what team Giannis is on next season, by implied probability its currently
Miami 27%
Milwaukee 25
Boston 12.5
Golden State 10
Brooklyn 8.3
NYK 8.3
MIN 8.3
OKC 6.3
DET 5.3
POR 5.3
CLE 5
etc
if your offered jalen brown thats a deal breaker.theres wares jjjj herros already on roster.no jalen brown type players currently on roster.brown turner kuzma portis rollins trent jr prob beat this years heat team
Miami having all their own picks going forward besides the one pick going to CHA in 27 or 28 gives them an advantage over teams like NYK, CLE, MIN, who already cashed their picks in in previous trades
Time to cash in the picks is now. Giannis is one of 18 in NBA history to win multiple MVPs. Those players are almost never available in a trade. This situation is literally a once in a 10-20 year occurrence or more, Heat by being patient (not trading Herro, not trading for Beal etc) have put themselves in a good position here.
*16 players who have won multiple MVPs
The right order is:
There is not much Heat can do. The target destination will be picked within the family, and if they prefer something else then Miami, then thats it. If not, he will probably land where he wants to land, but the price should be fair.
Herro, Ware, 1 another young player, max 2, and picks and pick swaps.
At the end of the day, what matters most is 1.) what the Bucks value and 2.) More importantly, where Antetokounmpo wants to actually play basketball.
Actually, what matters most is 1.) what Miami will need to give up to get Antetokounmpo (players, picks and pick swaps, 2.) what players/assets will Miami have left and most importantly,
3) will that version of the Heat have a legitimate chance of winning the Championship?.
If the answer to #3 is no, I wouldn’t do it. Instead, I would look at other options.
forget about Giannis. Even if someone like Donovan Mitchell or Devin Booker becomes available, what do the Heat really have to offer? Some young role players and a few picks. Basically the same thing as everyone else. At this point, the Heat’s only chance is to pray that an all-star on an expiring contract specifically asks to go to the Heat. And even then, results have been mixed