The Miami Heat have had a down year, but a blockbuster move this summer is definitely in the works unless Pat Riley stops being Pat Riley.
Miami has always found a way to re-load its roster and stay in contention since the head coach-exec duo of Erik Spoelstra and Riley has been at the helm.
The Jimmy Butler saga sort of ruined Miami’s 2024-25 season, but there’s no way Riley and Spo will allow the Heat to be unsuccessful in 2025-26.
That being said, Miami needs another key roster piece to get up to speed with the current powers of the Eastern Conference, most notably the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro will be off-limits in trade negotiations this offseason, but everyone else — including all of Miami’s young talent — will be on the table.
And for a franchise that once lured LeBron James away from his hometown team, it won’t be surprising to see the Heat front and center in the sweepstakes for another Hall of Fame wing in a few months.
Forbes’ Evan Sidery predicted this week that Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant — who’s widely expected to be traded — could land in Miami.
“After pursuing a trade for Kevin Durant last month, the Heat will be a team to closely monitor if the Suns make him available again this summer,” Sidery wrote.
“Miami can build a potentially appealing package around Andrew Wiggins, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, and multiple first-round picks.”
Durant will have plenty of high-profile suitors. The Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs could all get involved.
It could turn into the Summer of Durant after the NBA Finals, and the Heat are hoping to have a front row seat.
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