The Miami Heat are coming off a shocking run to the NBA Finals. It ended in a Game 5 loss to the Denver Nuggets. But it’s hard to fathom exactly what Erik Spoelstra’s squad did.
Miami finished the regular season with the worst scoring offense in the NBA. It entered the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, only to pull off an historic upset of the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
Miami then took out the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics before meeting its match in the form of Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets in the Finals.
If one thing became clear during Miami’s five-game loss to Denver, it’s that the team needs a No. 2 option behind Jimmy Butler. Center Bam Adebayo did what he could, but he’s not a second option on a title contending team. Miami’s reliance on role players such as Max Strus and Gabe Vincent ended up being its downfall.
There’s now a real expectation that Miami will go big game hunting in the form of a blockbuster trade this summer.
“They have draft picks at their disposal, and they potentially have tradeable contracts, and I think they’re going to go hunting for a star,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on the Miami Heat.
This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Front office head Pat Riley is always active in looking for that star player. With the NBA trade block likely to be active this summer, Miami might have several options.
The defending Eastern Conference champions also boast a full allotment of draft picks moving forward as well as players who might intrigue rebuilding teams.
Related: Takeaways from Denver Nuggets Game 5 win over the Miami Heat
Miami Heat blockbuster trade options
Those around the NBA believe that the trade market will be more active this summer than in the past. That’s primarily due to a number of teams believing they can contend for a title. The financial situation following the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) will also play a role. Look for Miami to take advantage.
Damian Lillard
Miami has joined the Brooklyn Nets as the two teams most linked to Portland’s star guard. He’s considered good friends with Adebayo. Meanwhile, the idea of teaming Dame up with Butler in the backcourt might be too hard for the Heat to pass up on.
The question here is whether the Blazers are open to moving Lillard. They are coming off a disastrous 2022-23 season and boast the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Lillard wants them to flip that pick as part of a package for another star. If that doesn’t happen, he could request a trade. In this scenario, Tyler Herro joins multiple future first-round picks in heading to the Pacific Northwest with Lillard making his way to South Beach.
Karl-Anthony Towns
There are differing reports about the status of Towns in Minnesota. Most recently, indications are that the Wolves are not going to move their offensive-minded big man. However, it just makes too much sense for the team from a roster standpoint. The idea of teaming KAT up with Rudy Gobert never really made much sense. This skepticism came to fruition as the Wolves lost in the first round of the NBA Playoffs for a second consecutive season.
For Minnesota, the idea of acquiring the aforementioned Herro to go with stud two-guard Anthony Edwards could make sense. It would also bring in sharpshooting wing Duncan Robinson in this hypothetical.
The question for the Miami Heat is rather obvious. Why would having two bigs work for them if it didn’t for Minnesota? Well, it’s simple. Adebayo is not nearly as limited offensively as Gobert. Meanwhile, Towns continues to prove that he can extend his game to the perimeter (40% three-point shooter throughout his career.
Bradley Beal
Now that the Wizards have brought in former Los Angeles Clippers general manager Michael Winger to run the front office, we are expecting full-scale changes in D.C. Wizards owner Leonsis is no longer against the idea of a rebuild. If that is indeed the case, moving Beal makes the most sense for this downtrodden organization.
The fit also makes sense in Miami. Beal can play the off-guard spot with Butler at the three. Both have an ability to run point, too. For the Heat, adding a consistent 30-point scorer to go with Jimmy Buckets makes a ton of sense. In this scenario, Herro and multiple first-rounders head to Washington.