We are mere weeks away from the bulk of the 2026 NBA Offseason, which is always an exciting time in the NBA calendar. For the Miami Heat, they are hoping to avoid a fifth-straight play-in appearance. But given the state of the organization, what should be their priorities entering the summer? Let’s examine!
Find a new home for Tyler Herro:
It was a rough 2025-26 season for Tyler Herro, who appeared in a career-low 36 games after an All-Star season the year prior. Herro dealt with a foot/ankle injury for most of the season, and wasn’t as impactful in the Heat’s new offense when he was.
While the Heat would be selling low on one of their best players, it’s time for both sides to part ways at this point. I don’t think he’s a valuable trade asset, but the Heat are going to have to be comfortable eating 70 cents on the dollar, at least. As much as Herro’s grown during his time with the Heat, it’s no longer a healthy partnership for either side.
Invest in your youth:
The Heat doesn’t have a great young core. They don’t have a terrible one, either. Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson and Kasparas Jakucionis have all shown encouraging flashes in their brief careers. I’d argue that Nikola Jovic has, too, although those completely vanished last year.
Vets are important not only on the court, but in the locker room. But the Heat need to lean into the development of their youth by surrounding them with players more beneficial to their success.
There will be inevitable ridges and bumps, and that’s OK. But Miami currently doesn’t have the spacing, point-of-attack defense or playmaking to completely unlock each of their potentials.
Begin to prepare for Anthony Edwards:
Earlier this week, I opined that the Heat should take a break from star chasing. Nobody likes perennial play-in appearances, but Miami poorly prepared for Antetokounmpo — whether they land him or not. They didn’t give themselves enough margin for error.
I’ll say this until I’m blue in the face: Instead of star chasing, the Heat should be focusing on asset accumulation — not haplessly gutting their already-empty treasure chest for Antetokounmpo, even though he would be an incredibly fun watch and fit alongside Adebayo.
They could be accomplished by:
- Trading Andrew Wiggins, assuming he opts into his $30.2 million player option, or any other player you don’t plan on paying (i.e. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Dru Smith, etc.)
- Inheriting bad contracts intertwined with draft capital.
- Buying low on depreciated talent or those on cost-controlled contracts (to rehabilitate their value)
If there’s any potential superstar I’m preparing for, it’s Anthony Edwards, not Antetokounmpo, respectfully. His situation in Minnesota is a ticking time bomb, and he’ll be entering his age-25 season. Plus, his ability to self-create and buy in defensively would make him a great fit.
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#1 and #2 DREB% teams this year are in the Finals and the only minutes those teams were better at rebounding than the Heat with Bam (77.7%) were SAS with Wemby and Champagnie (78.7), NYK with Hart (77.8)
I still think Bam and Ware can each average 10 or more rebounds per game in the same season. That has happened only 5 times before and only twice since the 60’s. The last two teams with two 10rpg players were:
Heat fans were bitching for years about not having a legitimate center so Bam could play his natural position, PF. The first time Miami drafts one, some folks are eagar to trade him away and force Bam to go back to playing C full-time.
I’m looking at Ware’s potential and believe it is the coach’s/ organization’s responsibility to help him realize his full potential. I think Ware is capable of averaging 15+ppg and 10+rpg. What Miami can use is a good/high scoring 2 way SF, a good two way SG and a good back-up combo PF/C .
I, for one, hope that neither Ware nor Jaquez are traded. Herro and Jovic, hell yes. There are several teams looking for shooters (e.g., Detroit, Houston, Orlando, Toronto). Herro’s value may be greater than some think. If Jovic comes back from summer break with a new attitude and something that resembles his lost mojo, it might not be too difficult to package both of them in a trade.
Edwards reminds me on Mitchell. He is rarely at his best in PO.
And he is a bonehead. Four kids with four different woman at his age?
What are teaching those kids in the school?
So I wouldn’t have him in the team.
hes from the tyreek school of athletes.u might have to google him vagi.4 kids 4 diff women at that age.yeah thats bad .and yes in playoffs never delivers.buyer beware another tyreek hill.personality dont need that in locker room.ill pass on him big.low character dude
Well, some basics should be learned in school, if there is no mum and dad to tell you what happens not using things when get involved with girls. If he cant get that, than he cant get other stuff too, like playing basketball at the highest level.
He has tools to be an elite player, but I doubt he has the mind of such player.
Ant is far, far better than Mitchell – he gives a team a championship ceiling, vs Mitchell who had never made the conference finals until this year, and his team gave up during the 4Q of Game 1. Mitchell being a one way player who doesn’t ration his energy for defense but puts it all into scoring, vs Ant who is capable of being a two way player is a big difference.
Disagree. Different player, true, he can defend some, yes. But he tends to disappear in key moments, at least in PO, just like Mitchell.
He is better player then Mitchell, but team with him as a main player wont win the title.
He was playing through injury on bad knees this playoffs, that has to be a factor. He’s made 2 WCF with Gobert in 4 years, vs 0 in 5 for Mitchell. He’s a better shooter than Mitchell. I think it’s a fair question how much he can make others better and it has to be proven but there’s no reason so far to think he can’t get there. As a scorer he’s much closer to the MJ, Kobe mold than Mitchell, who has a high playoffs ppg average without the team success.
Ant also has buy in from teammates and is seen as leader, vs Mitchell who is tuned out because he doesn’t play one end of the court. That’s a key difference. You don’t see Mitchell sprinting to contest a shot like Wemby did in the 4Q vs OKC. Strus was the one on Cleveland expending the most energy to compete vs NYK, which is a huge problem.
He also congratulate opposing players 8 minutes before end game in final game in PO.
I do think that he is a good player, which have injury problems this year, but he is not in the same tier as elite players.
ant man top 5 player wemby joker greek clearly rather have ,sga luka its a push.u put him on heat might get to ecf.
Anthony Edwards is never coming here. Lakers already planning ahead to put him and Doncic together.
Trading Herro for Giannis vs Herro for 70 cents on the dollar (when have the Heat made a trade like that) is an easy decision. Herro on OKC or DET could have swung the series in their favor.
Giannis is available/will play on a new team next year, vs Ant who has three years left on his contract. A Giannis trade would cost much less than an Ant trade. Both are 15-1 to win MVP next year (which is probably underselling Giannis’ MVP chances imo). Other than last year with 36 games played the last season Giannis finished outside the top 5 in MVP voting and didn’t make All-NBA 1st team was 2018
This has to be among the most delusional comments ever.
Where is Herro going to play on OKC if healthy? Taking JDub’s minutes? Gonna be ball dominate over Shai? Throw in they had Ajay Mitchell hurt too…Between McCain, Caruso, Mitchell, Williams, Wallace, and Dort – you think OKC needed another guard to win that series?
And in Detroit – they’d be pairing him in a unplayable combo of awful defense with Duncan? Or is he just getting Duncan’s minutes? And again, what role is he playing, when Cade is dominating the ball? Just hanging around the 3 point line?
Some good points here. But Herro played combo PG-SG in Miami. I believe he could be much more effective as a pure shooting guard playing with elite PG, which could defend. Detroit seems a good option. OKC not so, unless he plays a backup to SGA. They are similar players in some regards.
Even if he’d have a role in Detroit, look at Duncan’s minutes in the final 7 games. He started to lose minutes, because Cleveland was hunting him. Do you remember what Cleveland did to Herro last year? Do you think that Detroit would limit Duncan’s minutes because of lack luster defense, but let Herro play? Doesn’t make sense.
Would Herro make these teams? Sure. He’s better than the bottom of their roster. Maybe he’d start on them. But neither of these teams would really want Tyler Herro at $30M. Neither of these teams would still be playing with Tyler Herro.
Good teams makes tough decisions. For some teams, the last piece is a player of his qualities.
Harden got that money, and he isn’t a better player then Herro now.
Robinson was a major reason DET made Rd 2, they don’t beat ORL in Rd 1 without him. Vs CLE he averaged 33 minutes the first three games, then got hurt, missed Gm 5 and played only 20-21 minutes in Gm 6 and 7. His minutes were reduced due to injury, he clearly was gutting it out and wasn’t the same. When Robinson got hurt and was out Gm 5 and limited after that, Detroit put in Marcus Sasser who had played a total of 4 minutes in the playoffs up to that point to find some 3PT shooting
Robinson vs ORL – averaged 30 mpg for the series, and with DET’s season on the line his minutes increased to 36 mpg in Gm 6 and 7, where he was +39
dunc and ty cant guard did u see anybody in sas okc that couldnt guard.if u have offense like luka or jokic u can get away with it. u cant win the ultimate prize with unc or zerro defense.getting minutes just cant
OKC Game 7 had an 8 man rotation with Caruso, McCain, Jaylin Williams off the bench. Kenrich Williams was the 9th man and played only 4 min.
OKC had $20m in players salary that didn’t play in Gm 7 (Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins). Another $25m that played 20 minutes and went 1-8 FG (Dort and Kenrich). Add in Chet who shot 1-2 FG in 32 min.
Travel back in time to the trade deadline and OKC would have traded salary plus picks for Herro, because with that trade they might be in the Finals right now. Instead they made the McCain trade because Herro wasn’t available.
I agree. Herro starting and Uncan coming in off the bench gives Detroit a 3 point shooter on the floor at all times. They need more scoring and have the defensive players to cover for him.
OKC’s problems – 3PT shooting and lack of creation outside of SGA and JDub. That was why Ajay Mitchell’s playoff emergence in Rd 2 was so important. For all of OKC’s talked about/overrated depth, they had only 3 players who could create their own shot consistently, with two injured vs SAS
Game 7 OKC was outscored from 3 by 15 points. Caruso and McCain were 2nd and 3rd in FGA on the team and shot 3-14 and 5-12. They definitely could have used Herro as the second guard on offense to give SGA a break, who looked exhausted in the 4Q
DET’s problems – same as OKC. They ran out of gas collectively in Gm 7, scored only 94, shot 35% FG. Cade was 5-16, Sasser and Jenkins both 4-12.
On OKC Herro plays McCain’s minutes and shifts Caruso’s role back to defense and not to be 2nd option on offense. On DET same thing, plays Sasser’s minutes and shifts Jenkins role back to defense. Result of either series could be flipped in that case.
So just to confirm – Herro would effectively not have a role on OKC, if they were healthy? McCain was playing roughly 14minutes per game prior to his injury, with one DNP. What team in their right mind would want a $30M player to cover the 14 minutes per game? And if JDub was healthy – those 14 minutes might have been even lower.
On Detroit – you are ignoring the key fact that Herro and Duncan are unplayable together. Miami learned that over and over. Duncan averaged 29 minutes per game in these playoffs. His role lessened in the final 7 (maybe partially due to injury, but also often because he was hunted on Defense). Do you think Detroit would have ignored Tyler Herro’s defense while limiting Duncan in part due to his defense?
A team like OKC with a strong defense but lacking shot creation is a perfect fit for Herro. He would be the third guard on a full strength OKC after SGA and JDub, he could start at the 2 or be the 6th man. His strengths would directly address OKC’s needs which were glaring in that Gm 7. They had no one except SGA to create, San Antonio knew that and took advantage/built their defense around slowing down SGA and making the rest of the team hit difficult outside shots and daring Caruso and McCain to drive and create, which they couldn’t do.
With Herro next to SGA you can’t play the same defense, the floor is opened up more and Herro can attack closeouts and distribute. Real chance OKC is in the Finals now with Herro, who would be the best 3PT shooter on that team even ahead of SGA.
On Detroit – they were a mirror image of OKC. #2 defense this year and built around forcing TOs (#1) and turning defense into transition offense. Both teams had a #1 option who had to do too much because of lack of shot creation around them.
Robinson was 2nd in total minutes on Detroit, and in Robinson’s minutes they were still the #4 defense.
Robinson missed Gm 5 vs CLE, a close OT game that Detroit lost by 4 where they were -9 from three (Jenkins, Tobias and Levert shot a combined 3-18). Robinson was their #3 scorer in the playoffs and if he wasn’t hurt and missed that game, DET could have gone up 3-2 and won the series.
This idea that Herro and Duncan are unplayable together because of defense comes up a lot, but Miami was a top 10 defense in 24-25 with Herro 1st and Robinson 4th in minutes. On a team already with the #1 or #2 defense like both OKC and DET that desperately needed shooting Herro would have been a real difference maker.
u give herro 25-30 mins on sas i dont believe they beat okc,all those spurs youngens are very good defenders herro would be hunted out.and buckets for okc would be flowing.
Spurs have the #2 playoff defense after NYK and the unanimous DPOY, and they still needed Champagnie’s 6 threes in Gm 7 to win. OKC defense like SAS is built around shutting off the paint and forcing the other team into outside shots. Through 6 games SAS was only +3 in points from 3 for the series, basically even with OKC who is not a great 3PT shooting team. Absurd to think that adding a career 38% 3FG shooter to SAS would result in a series loss. All 30 teams in the NBA would have Herro in a playoff rotation and it’s not even a question.
What is Plan B in the remote possibility the Giannis trade falls through? Any thought/ideas?
OTHER POSSIBLE TRADE OPTIONS:
Trade for Kahwi, Ja, Mitchell, Edwards
STAY THE COURSE OPTION:
Heat could always draft the best available players at #13 and #41, not renew Powell or Fontecchio (sign & trade, if possible), trade Herro (to Detroit, Orlando, Sacramento, ?), consider extending Johnson and Gardner, and wait to see what, if anything, shakes loose by the trade deadline.
As long as Miami does not appear desperate, as it does now, who knows what trade offers and draft picks might come the Heat’s way?
ROSTER:
Bam, Wiggins, Mitchell, Ware, Jaquez, Larsson, Jakocionis, Jovic, Smith, #13 pick (Lendeborg, Philon, Carr, Steinbach, Burries?), #41 pick (Ejiofor, Miller, Karaban, Conwell, Nelson, ?), return for Herro trade to Detroit (Beef Stew, Holland and 2027 second round pick), possible return for Powell (if able to sign & trade), Johnson and/or Gardner (if re-signed).
POSSIBLE LINE-UP
Mitchell, Larsson, Wiggins, Bam, Ware
Jakucionis, Gardner, Jaquez, Lendeborg, Stewart,
Smith, Holland, Johnson, Jovic, Miller
PROJECTED WIN TOTAL:
36-42 (Lottery pick #11-#13)
Summer 2027
Select 2027 lottery pick and go ss/whale shopping for free agents or trade prospects.
i dont like wasting a year,the heat have entertained me pretty much for 30 staright years give or take a few bad years.no gap years no tank years.get a good gm who knows what the f hes doing.brain at 80 aint the same as is at 30.
1) more of a mini tank.
2) the reason Miami is where it is because Riley traded all of its first and second round picks away to avoid disappointing your desire for sbeing competitive every single season.
#2? We have a winner!
Thangya vera mush.
Mortgaging future draft picks for immediate gratification is like making a deal with the devil. At some point, you will be required to pay the piper when the devil comes to collect.
weve had #1 picks for just about every year but weve never sukd generals enough to get the high ones.thank gd pat drafted wade cause looking over some of his picks hes missed on about 80% of his picks.d wade saved the heat i love the guy.otherwise my name would be heat for dead and for sure rc would have never met me in july
Riley’s been here for 31 years. The Heat have had 19 first round draft picks.
Sam Presti has been in OKC since 2007, and has had I think 28 first round picks. Obviously OKC is an extreme example, but huge difference.
because weve been relatively good to very good for about 25 years havent had the super high picks like the cheatin spurs and the generals.when your ss gets old and quits on u its time to acquire another ss.we went from d wade to jimmy now we have squat.until bam is your 3rd best player jewelry is not possible.jacos pelles jjjs just guys.need to find that special player weve had around here under pat.until we do rc and i will never meet in july.
I think Riley and fans need to accept reality that the Heat will never be a truly competitive contender until it stops whale hunting and having unrealistic expectations.
I was advocating a fire sale the past two years but Riley wastes season after season promising hope and change and delivering mediocre play-in teams. I’m a realist and can tell you “this dog won’t hunt” no matter how much anyone hopes it will.
Changes must be made in Miami’s philosophy on team building. That won’t happen as long as Riley is the president/GM.
Me too. I advocated trading Butler in February 2024 when he was sleepwalking through the regular season. We could have gotten a real haul for him at that point and it was clear the team wasn’t a contender. Then he got hurt at the end of the season, and the next season became a malcontent, severely diminishing his value. This season, we both felt if they weren’t planning to retain certain players,they should have moved them in February.
There is only one word for how the team’s assets have been handled…mismanagement.
How many NBA teams have passed Miami by in the past few years through the draft while Riley was exhausting the team’assets to try to keep its head above water?
If Riley is giving the fans consistent mediocrity vs long term competitiveness it’s because that’s the bottom limit of what they will accept. Somehow fans think making it to the play-in round somehow gives the Heat a shot at the title. In 2023 Miami caught lightning in a bottle. It won’t happen again.
I’m telling you now, if antman ever becomes available or wants a trade out, he is one of the few SS I would trade bam in a heartbeat for dwade jr. Bam will still be here whether we get giannis or not.
congratulating your opponent in a closeout game with 8mins left not a good look.his teammates couldnt have been happy with that.hes top 5-7 player.greeks little older but better player he won a ring with less talent than antman had around him
Antman is a top 5 talent at least. You can say giannis is a bit better, but ant is the better shooter, and his game will age better I think. Giannis had less talent, but antman in the west dealing with way stiffer competition.
go east at least u might get to the finals.why would minn not try to help him out,u cant lose players like that big id be surprised if hes not on minn his whole career.ant seems to come up short in the playoffs he doesnt have the dwayne wade aint no way im losing theres not one guy in nba that can slow down greek.we use to have to set up a wall to guard him.only negative lots wear and tear.id be doing backflips if we got greek.if we dont get him ill be doing front flips.