Heat Could Land All-Star Forward Courtesy of Kings’ Kuminga Pursuit

Heading into the offseason, Pat Riley appeared deadset on adding a star-level talent to the Miami Heat‘s rotation. Rumors linked Riley with a move for Kevin Durant before he was dealt to the Houston Rockets.

Since losing out on Durant, rumors surrounding Miami have gone quiet. Outside of the deal to bring Norman Powell to South Beach, Riley has been quiet. However, that could change if DeMar DeRozan hits the trade block between now and the February 2026 trade deadline.

According to Sactown Sports 1140’s Allen Stiles, the Sacramento Kings could make the six-time All-Star available for trade. However, they would need to find a way to acquire Jonathan Kuminga via a sign-and-trade with the Golden State Warriors first.

“I believe that there is a handshake agreement between DeMar DeRozan and the Sacramento Kings,” Stiles said. “If Jonathan Kuminga is acquired by the Sacramento Kings, the Sacramento Kings will get their butts in gear as far as getting DeMar DeRozan to another team…And I know that we’ve brought up before the situation with the Miami Heat, right? And do you just take Terry Rozier two seconds and it’s essentially a salary dump?… You’re going to get money that’s eventually going to come off the books if Terry Rozier even plays.”

Landing DeRozan would be a significant boost for the Heat. His playmaking and three-level scoring would give Spoelstra a new veteran to lead the offense. And while DeRozan isn’t the same level of defender, his presence could help fill the void left behind by Jimmy Butler.

DeRozan May Want a Fresh Start With The Heat

DeRozan signed with the Kings last summer. His addition was supposed to help the franchise take another step toward contending in the Western Conference. However, the Kings went through a significant transition period midway through the campaign. The front office traded away star guard De’Aaron Fox and fired Mike Brown.

In the 77 regular-season games DeRozan played, he averaged 22.2 points, 4.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game, shooting 51.3% from 2-point range and 32.8% from deep. While those numbers are solid, it’s clear Sacramento is working through a transitional phase, especially with Scott Perry now calling the shots in the front office.

Therefore, DeRozan may want a fresh start in a more stable environment, and it doesn’t get much more stable than the Heat. He could slot straight into Spoelstra’s rotation and instantly improve the team’s chances of success.

Heat’s Pat Riley Isn’t Against Adding Veterans

During a May 9 conference, Riley refused to rule out the idea of adding a veteran talent to the Heat’s roster.

“I think an aging great player, who may not be able to carry a team together, can rise to the occasion in the playoffs,” Riley said. “…I still think that an aging player can play. Look at LeBron [James]. I mean, look at these players. It’s incredible. Players like LeBron and others who have played into their mid to late 30s and produced at a high level can help teams win championships. You have to pick out the right one, but I’m not against that, no.”

DeRozan will turn 36 during the 2025-26 NBA season. He is under contract until the summer of 2027. Riley’s willingness to work with aging talent could give DeRozan the perfect place to work through the final stage of his career, while also competing for deep playoff runs.

If he does become available, Miami would be wise to try to lure the former All-Star back to the Eastern Conference, especially if parting with Terry Rozier is the cost of doing business.