(Photo via Getty Images)
After the Miami Heat infamously struck out on the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, plenty of Heat Nation are wondering what’s the next move. Although their direction is still unclear on whether to embrace a youth movement or stay competitive, the history of the organization suggests the latter.
Ever since Pat Riley took over the Heat franchise, this has been an organization that has refused to embrace a rebuild for decades. It’s not the way they operate— regardless of whether it makes sense or not.
But there’s still plenty of question marks in a path to remain competitive this offseason. Durant’s superstar presence gave them likely their only true short cut back to relevancy in a weak Eastern Conference. Now that he’s off the table, Riley and company will have to get more creative if they want to avoid their fourth consecutive season in the NBA play-in.
As the core of Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Kel’el Ware are likely to remain the building blocks, that leaves another promising asset to utilize in trade talks— Andrew Wiggins.
Acquired by the Heat in the Jimmy Butler deal at this year’s trade deadline, the 30 year-old Wiggins put up encouraging numbers. In 17 appearances for Miami, he averaged 19 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks on 46% shooting. However, he struggled heavily in the team’s first round sweep by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The problems with Wiggins’ fit go deeper than his on-court production. He dealt with availability issues and his commitment to embracing the “Heat Culture” has looked rocky in hindsight. And according to an NBA insider, his Heat tenure could be short lived.
“Teams are wondering what is next with the Miami Heat after striking out on a Durant trade.”
“Miami continues to make Andrew Wiggins available in trade talks and would be willing to part with the 20th pick in the NBA Draft for an upgrade alongside Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, sources said.”
— Brett Siegel/ClutchPoints
Can the Sacramento Kings be a viable trade partner with the Miami Heat?
It’s unknown what rival teams around the league would currently be interested in Wiggins. However, there have been rumblings linking the Heat and Sacramento Kings as possible trade partners in the very near future.
Both squads were part of the middling group of play-in caliber teams in each respective conference last season. So a potential fit in trade talks between each franchise could make sense in to revamp their roster’s.
The rumor mill has featured DeMar DeRozan landing in South Beach for weeks now. Additionally, the Kings have been mentioned to be shopping Malik Monk and looking to acquire a first-round pick from this upcoming draft.
This approved mock trade via Spotrac provides both the Heat and Kings with a beneficial deal to begin the offseason.
Wiggins could be an intriguing headliner in any potential trade.
In the prime of his career, he still provides upside as a versatile two-way wing. Terry Rozier’s expiring salary along with a young player like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and the 20th pick gives that balance of a well rounded trade package.
In return, the Heat get a proven and still efficient bucket getter in DeRozan to add a much needed scoring punch to their lineup. Miami has circled back on the six-time All-Star several times over the years. And Malik Monk is another talented two-way piece that bolsters the Heat’s guard depth and has ties to Adebayo from their days at Kentucky.
Lastly, last year’s 13th overall pick Devin Carter can help make up for the loss of Jaquez and this year’s 20th pick.
Do you think this deal is beneficial for Miami? Are you ready to move on from Wiggins already? Let us know in the comments!
***
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
- Heat extend qualifying offer to Davion Mitchell
- Heat reportedly making Andrew Wiggins available in hopes of upgrading the roster
- 2025 NBA Draft: Smoke is spreading around Heat drafting Walter Clayton Jr.
- Sunshine State Showdown: More than just a battle for Florida bragging rights
- 2025 NBA Draft Tracker: Who do Heat plan to work out?
Miami Heat Kings! Lezz do it!
i truly believe kds first option was to play for pat but not willing to part with jovic in the deal we shall see.i dont have high hopes for niko just dont see him playing with these ahtletes .u watched the athleticism in the finals it was outrageous.
my insiders telling me lots of kings coming to so beach
You mean like my post below from 9 hours ago? 😀
lots buzz about kings coming here on internet .no lavigne murray or sabonis though
Yes I know. It’s why I reported it 9 hours ago when the story first surfaced.
New mock by On3. It is why I believe the best move the Heat could make is to trade down with Brooklyn if they were willing (and they have plenty of picks and may want to move up a little). Again, I am being realistic, and don’t expect this to happen, but the opportunity to get two players like Traore and Powell (or Fleming) really appeals to me.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder Sorber, Georgetown
16. Memphis Grizzlies*: Coward, Washington State
17. Minnesota Timberwolves*: Demin, BYU
18. Washington Wizards*: McNeely, UConn
19. Brooklyn Nets*: Newell, Georgia
20. Miami Heat*: Clayton, Florida
21. Utah Jazz*: Riley , Illinois
22. Brooklyn Nets*: Clifford, Colorado State
23. New Orleans Pelicans*: Wolf, Michigan
24. Oklahoma City Thunder*: Hugo Gonzalez, Spain
25. Orlando Magic*: Richardson, Michigan State
26. Brooklyn Nets*: Nolan Traore, France
27. Brooklyn Nets*: Powell, North Carolina
28. Boston Celtics: Raynaud, Stanford
29. Phoenix Suns*: Fleming, St. Joseph’s
30. Los Angeles Clippers*: Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Let’s hope someone is there that they want. It wouldn’t hurt to have two bite at the apple like we would have had if we missed the playoffs. It would be funny if they ended up with two again.
26 27 for 20 not gonna happen 26 27 for 10 more realistic rc
I don’t expect it to happen. But if a team wanted a specific player who is available at 20, anything is possible. And no way does a team holding the #10 pick trade it for 26, 27.
Breaking: Heat trade Pat Riley to Minnesota for Ant+Naz Reid
😜😆😂😝
Happiest day of someone’s life 😆
second happiest.when duncan and his d are not on this team im having a parade in hollywood.,
Porzingis to Atlanta for a bag of chips.
Chips must be very good
Nacho good trade flavor
Hawks said to be in sign and trade market. Next 24 hours before the draft could be busy.
ill take the chips.porzingis is the most injury prone athlete in the last decade
The Miami Heat have worked out France PG Nolan Traore, per Greg Sylvander.
i think the pick will be traded, but I like the upside of Traore.
I hope they make the pick and not trade it away for a meh guy
Me too
BREAKING: The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat have held internal discussions about a potential trade involving Bam Adebayo and Jaylen Brown, per sources.
Lol, I wonder who the source is? Ace Ventura? I will choose not to believe that one.
i would do that trade rc anyday.u have ware bam is just a ware deterrent
As the man who you look up to as GM ready has told you, they have played too few games together to draw any conclusions. He suggested you remain patient and that Rome wasn’t built in a day. I suggest the same. As for that probably fake trade, many people here would be fine with it.
Heat guarantee Keshad’s contract and extend qualifying offer to Davion. Also extended 2-way offer to Dru, but not Stevens. Christopher is not eligible for another 2-way, so is now an unrestricted free agent.
Miami Miami Miami just gotta love it, every team does something and this team is gonna stand pat (pun). Not only that now we’re pushing for a gap year cause this incompetent FO didn’t think to gap year this year when quitter decided to act out? I also looked at the 26’ FA class and love to know besides doncic what great FA yall seeing on there? And spoiler for those who haven’t seen this movie yet Mia doesn’t end up with the pretty girl….same movie I’ve seen in the last decade. We can gap year it run it back again 7x and hope and pray Mia is gonna get the pretty girl but it isn’t gonna happen. Lmfao have fun keeping hope alive…….guaranteed that half the good/decent 26’ FAs sign with their current team or sign somewhere else besides Mia.
I agree. It may sound negative, but it’s richly deserved. This GM just keeps barking up all the wrong trees. Sometimes I think he thinks it’s all about him and his legacy. And now he is turning on Wiggins with the “he hasn’t bought into Heat culture,” nonsense. It could be argued that he is our third most valuable player, so unless it is a salary dump, not sure it’s where we should be trimming. Except that no one wants our collection of one way players and the only way we can get rid of them is in package deals. I wish more every day that he would step down.
he is our third best player no doubt.that is a major problema.like bam be our best player major problema.
The Pelicans are trading McCollum, Kelly O and a future second-round pick to the Wizards for Poole, Bey, and the No. 40 pick.
The New Orleans Pelicans are trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Sorry for the duplication. This was hung up in *waiting for approval * purgatory, so I re-wrote it.
cj best of the bunch and hes average a nothing deal
Just reporting, not evaluating.
Kings receive: Andrew Wiggins, Terry Rozier, Jaime Jaquez Jr, 20th pick
Heat receive: DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, Jonas Valanciunas, Devin Carter
Don’t hate me people 😆😆, but I would definitely do that trade. Monk is still pretty young and consistent, Jonas would make a solid backup center, Carter is a solid, athletic guard who I liked and was picked 2 spots before Ware, and we all know what DeRozan brings to the table.
Without knowing what else could be out there, I would do it as well. But I wanted Wiggins immediately off the team after that Cavs series. It’s possible he was injured, but I did not see a Heat player. He gave nothing and I don’t want to see that lack of heart and passion for another season or two. Yuk.
Except, as I understand it, that is a proposed trade, not a real one.
Yes, sorry, should have specified that. Of course, it was inferred in my comment that I would do it.
Miami should make Wiggins available for draft picks and hope someone is foolish enough to give us a couple.
If you are going to rightfully not included your few talented young assets in a draft for an aging Durant, you should also recognize that adding a few more draft picks to the fold would help. Hopefully Riley sees that at some point and moves Wiggins tonight for something that may not help this year, but will hopefully help in the future.
I’d be cool with restocking picks would also be cool with the Kings package. We would then have like 4 Sacramento kings guards which is a little ridiculous ship one of them out if it happens, someone could use monk I think
I would prefer Monk as a backup to Tyler off the bench over anyone else on the roster at the 2. That being said, if someone were to offer something good, sure. Trade him.