10 players Heat should target with $16.8M trade exception

Miami Heat Trade — Steven Adams should be a player the Miami Heat explore with their biggest trade exception. (Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images)

Whether the Miami Heat complete a blockbuster deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Miami Heat do not have an outstanding amount of assets to work. Regardless, two mechanisms that they can choose to use to acquire talent this summer include a pair of trade exceptions — worth $16.8 million and $5.6 million, respectively.

The Heat generated the former in the Duncan Robinson sign-and-trade by absorbing Simone Fontecchio’s $8.3 million into a separate TPE. And Highsmith’s was created after they salary-dumped his $5.6 million onto the Brooklyn Nets.

Using trade exceptions is more complicated in the two-apron than they were previously; building a team, in general, is harder. But these offer a way for the Heat to acquire a player (or two, depending on the TPE) without sending out salary, though it would hard cap them at the first apron. These exceptions cannot be combined and expire after one calendar year; their $16.8 million TPE expires on July 7, while their $5.6M expires on Aug. 15.

Regardless if they acquire Antetokounmpo or not, who are a few players the Miami Heat should target using their $16.8 million TPE? Let’s examine 10 possible names (even though some will fit into their other one too).

Honorable Mention: Zaccharie Risacher, F, Hawks:

Cap hit: $13.8 million

Skinny: We explored this possibility before. Personally, I’m for this flier at an inexpensive cost, even though Risacher is still very raw as a player. But these are the dart throws the Heat should be making, especially ifhe’s able to blossom with their developmental staff in due time.

Dorian Finney-Smith, F, Rockets:

Cap hit: $13.3 million

Skinny: Finney-Smith, 33, was catastrophic with Houston last year. But a lingering ankle injury threw his season off kilter from the start, and when he’s right, his rangy 3-and-D skill set is exactly what the Heat need — especially if they consolidate Wiggins. He still has two more years beyond 2026-27 at $13.3 million apiece, which isn’t detrimental to the team’s cap sheet, despite his age.

Steven Adams, C, Rockets:

Cap hit: $13.0 million

Skinny: Another Rocket, Adams was far more impactful than Finney-Smith before an ankle surgery prematurely ended his season. I don’t think the Rockets trade him given how important he was to their frontcourt. Whether the Heat acquire Giannis or not, Adams is a great backup. He knows his role — screening and rebounding — and he’s phenomenal at both, although he’d almost certainly have to play in the non-Giannis minutes in that hypothetical.

Derrick Jones Jr., F, Clippers:

Cap hit: $10.5 million

Skinny: What about a reunion? Is that on the table? I’m not sure, but I think Jones adds athleticism and point-of-attack defense at the wing that the Heat simply don’t have. And if we know anything about this organization, they’ll circle back on former players.

AJ Green, G, Bucks:

Cap hit: $10.0 million

Skinny: Green would be a phenomenal add if the Heat were able to squeeze him from Milwaukee in any Giannis trade. That would be a dream scenario, truthfully. He’s nothing short of a sniper. Only Luke Kennard has a higher 3-point percentage than Green since he entered the league in 2022 (min. 1000 3PA), burying 42.0 percent of his triples over that span. And Green is tremendously underrated as an isolation defender.

Buddy Hield, G, Hawks:

Cap hit: $9.6 million

Skinny: Hield is another good option if you’re primarily looking for a pure floor spacer post-Giannis trade. He’s streaky, but the 33-year-old has shot 38.6 percent from 3-point range over his last five seasons. He’s solely a specialist entering the penultimate year of his $38 million deal.

Naji Marshall, F, Mavericks:

Cap hit: $9.4 million

Skinny: Marshall’s never been a great 3-point shooter, but he was miscast in his role last year with Dallas. Among their myriad injuries, Marshall was one of the Mavericks’ primary options alongside Cooper Flagg. In a perfect world, Marshall isn’t that. He’s a complementary piece who’s a very good slasher, connector and solid multi-positional defender.

Bilal Coulibaly, F, Wizards:

Cap hit: $9.2 million

Skinny: The Wizards’ wing room will get even more crowded with AJ Dybantsa, assuming they keep their pick and draft him No. 1 overall later this month. Coulibaly is entering the final year of his rookie contract, averaging 11.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He’s an animal defensively, and with a little help from Heat shooting coach Rob Fodor, may be worth taking a flier on.

Julian Strawther, F, Nuggets:

Cap hit: $4.8 million

Skinny: The word on the street is that the Nuggets — one of the NBA’s most expensive teams — are looking to trade either Christian Braun or Cam Johnson with the hope of retaining Peyton Watson. While that would throw water on one of our ideas, if the Nuggets decide to consolidate even more, I’d look at scooping Strawther.

He was a zero in the postseason — only played 18 total minutes, for reasons that remain unknown. But Strawther, a two-way connective tissue, was still a pretty important under-the-radar player in Denver’s rotation throughout the regular season and could benefit from a change of scenery.

Isaiah Collier, G, Jazz:

Cap hit: $2.8 million

Skinny: I don’t think the Jazz are going to trade Collier. Shooting and size notwithstanding, Collier’s ability to create for others is a reason to at least explore this dart through, especially with their confluence of guards that include Keyonte George, Kody Williams and Brice Sensabaugh (and potentially Darryn Peterson). He’s the only true point guard of the mix, though.

Jay Huff, C, Pacers:

Cap hit: $2.6 million

Skinny: As I do Yves Missi, I love Huff as a potential backup big option as a dynamic 3-and-D rim protector, although his 3-point shooting did tail off last year after shooting 40.5 percent (3.1 3PA) in Memphis the year prior.