The Miami Heat‘s need for a new leading star has been well documented. Jimmy Butler left a big hole in Erik Spoelstra’s rotation. Since Miami’s 2024-25 season ended abruptly, the rumors have primarily focused on veteran additions to the Heat’s roster.
However, a recent trade proposal from Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz shows Miami does have other options, which would allow them to get younger. Swartz’s trade idea look like this:
Miami Heat Get: Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz Get: Nikola Jovic, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, a 2025 first-round pick (via Golden State) and a 2030 first-round pick (top five protected.)
“We could see a huge front line in Miami with Markkanen, Kel’el Ware and Bam Adebayo, giving this roster a good mixture of outside shooting and defensive versatility,” Swartz reasoned. “After averaging just 95.5 points per game in a first-round sweep, the Heat need an offensive boost that Markkanen would provide.”
Markkanen spent the start of last summer mired in trade rumors. He ended up re-signing with the Jazz. However, Utah’s slow rebuild could entice the star big man to begin looking for a new home in the league. Miami would be a strong landing spot for him, assuming he fits into Erik Spoelstra’s system.
Heat Could Choose to Take a Gap Year
In his June 2 offseason preview of the Heat, Spotrac’s cap expert, Keith Smith, detailed why accepting a down year could set Miami up for long-term success.
“They could reasonably hit the summer of 2026 with $30 or $40 million in cap space, with the potential for even more,” Smith explained. “Obviously, if the Heat swing a star trade this offseason, that changes everything. Either way, they’re set up with pretty good flexibility no matter which direction they go.”
Smith continued.
“That means this might be another down year. Given Miami owns its own first-round pick free and clear in the 2026 draft, it might not be a bad time to have a gap year. Then, the Heat can get back to work with cap space and a good pick in the summer of 2026.”
Pat Riley isn’t known for embracing failure, even if it’s building toward something special. So, Riley may be tough to sell on the value of a losing season.
Heat Unlikely to Land a Top-Tier Superstar
Bill Simmons doesn’t view the Heat as a genuine contender to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. The veteran analyst doesn’t believe Miami has the necessary trade pieces to make a deal work.
“I wish Miami had one more guy because there is a ‘Bam and all your picks for Giannis’ framework that I think would work but it just puts Giannis in the same situation he is in now,” Simmons said in a recent episode of his “The Bill Simmons Show” podcast.
It’s safe to assume that Simmons’ reservations likely stem from a potential move for Kevin Durant, too. As such, a deal for Markkanen may be the ideal sweet spot for the Heat.
Of course, there’s no inclination that Utah would be willing to do business, nor that any of the Heat’s players would be of interest. Still, that would be unlikely to stop Riley from kicking the tires on a potential deal.
