The Miami Heat have been unusually quiet this offseason, which is surprising given their typically relentless pursuit of roster upgrades. They’ve only made minor moves, re-signing Kevin Love and Thomas Bryant on modest deals and adding Alec Burks as a bench spark plug. However, these moves don’t significantly impact a team that won just 46 games last season and exited in the first round of the playoffs.
With the Heat still in a challenging cap situation and top free agents quickly signing elsewhere, their options for improving the roster are limited. DeMar DeRozan is the best remaining free agent, but signing him would require significant maneuvering due to the Heat being over both the cap and the first tax apron.
Despite these challenges, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the Heat are actively exploring the trade market, even though pursuing DeRozan seems difficult. The team is also avoiding crossing the second tax apron to maintain flexibility.
Due to their cap constraints, the Heat may need to part with players like Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith. Nonetheless, the Heat’s front office has a history of making impactful moves that keep them competitive in the Eastern Conference.
So far, the Heat’s offseason has been uninspiring, essentially maintaining their current roster. While this strategy isn’t terrible, as better health next season could lead to a 50-win season, fans expect the Heat to be among the top teams in the conference. Compared to the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, the Heat have fallen short.
There may not be a star available that the Heat can realistically acquire. Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans or Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks would be ideal, but the Heat’s limited trade assets make these targets unlikely. The same goes for Lauri Markkanen.
The Heat could consider trading young talents like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic, but they need to retain skilled youth unless it’s for a prime target. Zach LaVine might be an option, but his large contract could be a deterrent.
The Heat are likely to target quality players below All-Star caliber, similar to their trade for Terry Rozier last season. Potential targets include Bogdan Bogdanovic, Dorian Finney-Smith, Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, and Malcolm Brogdon.
Finney-Smith would provide 3-and-D toughness, Johnson offers excellent shooting, Bogdanovic brings offensive versatility, Brown adds a winning mentality, Olynyk is familiar with Heat culture, and Brogdon enhances guard depth. Of these, Finney-Smith and Brown seem the most fitting, offering size and versatility on the wing, which would help the Heat compete with the top teams in the East.
