The recent noise about Damian Lillard and his future with the Portland Trail Blazers notwithstanding, the seven-time All-Star’s situation remains unchanged. Lillard has been about as loyal as an elite player with no rings could possibly be to a franchise and, as far as we know, Portland’s current playoff drought hasn’t prompted him to ask out.

Meanwhile, the Blazers appear intent on continuing to build around the baller despite his recent commentary about wanting to win at the highest level right now (something the team isn’t really equipped to do).

Of course, none of this has stopped Miami Heat fans — and pundits, reporters, blogs, et al. — from dreaming up trade scenarios bringing Lillard to the club.

Lillard doesn’t appear to have any problem with fanning those flames, either, raising eyebrows on Friday with an IG Live appearance featuring a musical shout-out to South Beach.

Blazers Star Damian Lillard Taps Will Smith for Heat-Centric Troll Job

As captured by Twitter user @MGRADS and others, Lillard popped onto IG Live with a certain top-20-charting, late ’90s rap anthem booming in the background. Namely, “Miami” from Will Smith’s album, Big Willie Style.

For the unawares, it’s a song that includes lyrics like, “Don’t get me wrong, Chi-town got it goin’ on. And New York is the city that we know don’t sleep. And we all know that L.A. and Philly stay jiggy. But on the sneak, Miami bringin’ heat for real.”

And the more on-the-nose “I’m goin’ to Miami” and “Welcome to Miami.”

Now, Lillard himself may or may not have been the person responsible for playing that song but, in any case, it’s probably a safe bet that he knew exactly how NBA people would react to hearing it on his stream just as Dame-centric trade rumors are heating up again.

It was either the biggest tease or the biggest troll job we have seen from a player so far this summer.

This much is certain — Lillard is still the kind of player who could put the Heat over the top in their efforts to bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to Kaseya Center. In 58 games for the Blazers in 2022-23, Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per outing while posting an effective field-goal percentage of 56.4.

Heat Focused on Getting Lillard, Blazers Focused on Keeping Him

In the wake of Thursday’s NBA Draft, Blazers general manager Joe Cronin — who selected G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson third overall — made it clear that he’s not thinking about dealing his cornerstone player. Like, ever.

“I would love to see Dame retire a Trail Blazer,” Cronin told reporters. “I have zero desire to trade him. I really hope this works out here.”

Even so, The Athletic’s David Aldridge recently joined the litany of media members who believe that Heat president Pat Riley has made bringing Lillard into the fold his No. 1 mission this offseason.

“Miami has clearly prioritized getting Damian Lillard from Portland, with Jimmy Butler a central part of the Heat’s recruiting pitch,” the longtime league insider wrote on June 18.

It’s been a long two weeks of rumors involving Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard and the Miami Heat. In spirit of all of the fun trade talk, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey mocked up a deal that would land Lillard in Miami after all.

Miami Heat Receive: G Damian Lillard, C Jusuf Nurkic

Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G Tyler Herro, G Kyle Lowry, Heat 2027 & 2029 First-Round Picks, Rights to Swaps First-Round Pick with Heat in 2028

Miami’s interest in Lillard is no joke, so the idea of the front office being willing to give up a haul for the star guard isn’t too far fetched. According to The Athletic’s David Aldridge, the Heat have made landing Lillard a priority this summer.

“Miami has clearly prioritized getting Damian Lillard from Portland, with Jimmy Butler a central part of the Heat’s recruiting pitch,” he wrote.

Typically in any major move, future draft picks are essential. Add on the financial factor of matching salary and that’s where Herro and Lowry come in.

The 23-year-old Herro became a prime trade candidate this spring, when the Heat worked their way to an NBA Finals appearance, all while he recovered from a broken hand. Team success of that magnitude without a specific player will always make them at least a little expendable. Plus, Miami’s No. 14 is set to make $27 million in 2023-24, the first year of a four year, $120 million contract extension.

Herro averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game in 67 appearances for Miami last year, while shooting 43.9% from the field and 37.8% from beyond the arc.

Insider Reveals Kyle Lowry Is Essential to Any Heat Blockbuster

Shifting focus to Lowry, who was also included in the mock trade, he seems to be essential to any possible Heat blockbuster this summer.

Heavy Sports’ NBA Insider Sean Deveney recently explained what makes the 37-year-old so pivotal towards Miami’s offseason plans.

“His play during the postseason helped resuscitate his trade value. But as old as he is, and considering his inability to stay healthy (he missed five weeks with a sore left knee just before the playoffs), that resuscitation is limited. With Lowry slated to earn $29.6 million next season, he would almost have to be part of any major Miami trade—it would be difficult to bring in, say, Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal without sending out Lowry.”

Trail Blazers Looking to Swipe Bam Adebayo From Heat

Though Miami has their sights set on Lillard, the Trail Blazers reportedly have different ideas. On June 20, Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer revealed that Portland hopes to swing a deal for Bam Adebayo in effort to pair him with their No. 0.

“Portland appears unlikely to part with the No. 3 choice unless the Blazers are netting back one of a select number of premium targets to pair with Lillard,” Fischer wrote. “According to one source with knowledge of the situation, Portland is preparing what the team believes to be a compelling package for Miami to part with All-Defensive centerpiece Bam Adebayo.”

Fischer then detailed what a potential Heat-Blazers trade for Adebayo would have to look like.

“Adebayo is a team favorite and a key hub of the Heat’s offense,” he added. “Miami brass seems very unlikely to consider any Portland overture that doesn’t include standout rookie Shaedon Sharpe, in addition to a package of the No. 3 pick and Anfernee Simons that the Blazers, sources said, have made available in discussions with other teams.”

Trades of prominent NBA players generally impact more than just the teams involved directly, but this year the ripple effect seems to be even more pronounced.

While the Bradley Beal-to-Phoenix transaction is on temporary hold as Washington looks to re-route Chris Paul (the Clippers still appear the most likely destination, but other teams want in on that discussion), other situations factor into the picture.

“It was out there that Miami decided not to bite on Beal because they were playing for (Portland’s Damian) Lillard,” a league source told Heavy Sports. “It really wasn’t that; it was tax consequences with Beal that really caused them to back off. The new tax is much more onerous.

“And I think part of it was that Beal said he wouldn’t give up the no-trade clause in his contract (after the initial deal was complete).”

Lillard may still be a possibility in trade, but this exec believes he is staying put.

“I think (the Trail Blazers) keep him,” he said. “I think they’re going to make a deal to bring in somebody. Hey, if they get some killer offer, all this could change, but right now from what we’re hearing, the thought in Portland is to keep him.”

The source said the Blazers could be looking at players like Zion Williamson, Kristaps Porzingis and Deandre Ayton.

Pelicans’ Zion Ready to Bolt New Orleans

And the ripples grow larger in magnitude.

Williamson would seem to be the golden gamble, in that, if he can play regularly, he makes New Orleans a legitimate threat. So why would the Pelicans move him?

“They don’t believe that he’s going to do well in their circumstance, so they’re willing to give him up,” the executive told Heavy. “He doesn’t want to be there. So if I’m them, there’s an old saying: scared money don’t make money.”

Another front office source confirmed that Williamson is up for discussion and supported the previous source’s notion that the Pelicans are poised to act.

“I think they realize they can’t go on with things the way they are,” he said. “And if they’re going to be bold, now is probably the time. It’s not like they can reasonably expect things to get better if they wait.

“I suppose there’s a chance things MIGHT get better, but for how long? I think the kind of latitude they’ve given Zion hasn’t helped the situation. Even if they can keep him on the court, the other stuff is probably going to get in the way. I think you’ll see them do some things now to get a re-set.”

Draymond to Stay Put?

Teams are also keeping a close eye on Draymond Green, who, as expected, opted out of the final year of his contract to sign a longer deal. GMs that Heavy has spoken to still feel it’s most likely the 33-year-old stays with Golden State.

“But he’s going to have a lot of people in his ear recruiting him,” said one. “There’s a lot of teams that think Draymond would put them over the top. The problem is those teams don’t have the room to just sign him as a free agent. That means there’d have to be a sign-and-trade, and unless Golden State would be getting something amazing in return, do they really want to let him go somewhere else?

“I think the Warriors are prepared to ride this out and spend the money with this core. They’d hoped some of the high picks would have stepped up more by now, but this is where they are.”

As the NBA Draft approaches and trade rumors continue to swirl, the Miami Heat have been labeled more as buyers than sellers so far. Miami’s desire to bring in a star-level player hasn’t been much of a secret up to this point.

However, Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported Tuesday that the Portland Trail Blazers are preparing a big time offer for Heat center Bam Adebayo.

“Portland appears unlikely to part with the No. 3 choice unless the Blazers are netting back one of a select number of premium targets to pair with [Damian] Lillard,” Fischer wrote. “According to one source with knowledge of the situation, Portland is preparing what the team believes to be a compelling package for Miami to part with All-Defensive centerpiece Bam Adebayo.”

Again, Miami’s mindset has been to build off of the NBA Finals run they just put together, rather than to offload talent in favor of building for the future. Fischer explained that in order for Portland to pry Adebayo away from the Heat, it’s going to take quite a bit in return.

“Adebayo is a team favorite and a key hub of the Heat’s offense,” he added. “Miami brass seems very unlikely to consider any Portland overture that doesn’t include standout rookie Shaedon Sharpe, in addition to a package of the No. 3 pick and Anfernee Simons that the Blazers, sources said, have made available in discussions with other teams.”

The 25-year-old big man has spent his entire six-year NBA career in South Beach, being named to four All-Defensive teams in the process. He’s been a part of three runs to the Eastern Conference Finals, two of which resulted in an NBA Finals berth. It’s difficult to imagine that the Heat will look to move on from the two-time All-Star, especially considering that he’s under contract through the 2025-26 season.

Heat More Interested in Trade for Blazers’ Damian Lillard

Though the Blazers are looking to pick Adebayo right off of Miami’s roster, the Heat are more interested in landing Portland’s star guard Lillard to pair with the big man and Jimmy Butler.

After news broke of the trade sending Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards to the Phoenix Suns, Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes reported that the Heat — while rumored to be a top destination for Beal — were more focused on Lillard.

“Miami’s focus is Portland superstar Damian Lillard with the genuine belief this could be the offseason the veteran guard seeks a change of scenery, league sources tell NBA on TNT, Bleacher Report,” Haynes reported in a tweet.

Kyle Lowry Likely to Included in Any Heat-Blazers Trade for Lillard

Veteran Miami guard Kyle Lowry would likely have to be involved in type of deal that the team makes this summer for Lillard. Lowry is set to make just under $30 million next season, making him a prime asset that can be used to match salary.

Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney recently alluded to the same thing, explaining that the Toronto Raptors great would be essential to any blockbuster deal.

“His play during the postseason helped resuscitate his trade value. But as old as he is, and considering his inability to stay healthy (he missed five weeks with a sore left knee just before the playoffs), that resuscitation is limited. With Lowry slated to earn $29.6 million next season, he would almost have to be part of any major Miami trade—it would be difficult to bring in, say, Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal without sending out Lowry.”

As the dust settles from Sunday’s Bradley Beal trade, the Miami Heat have been floated as a possible landing spot for Beal’s former teammate Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis has a $36 million player option in his contract, which he can decline to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

What he’ll decide to do is still cloudy with the departure of Beal, but if the 27-year-old opts in, the perhaps the Heat can swoop in and swing a deal for him.

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor pitched the possibility of a Porzingis fit in Miami, during an article reacting to the Phoenix Suns–Washington Wizards swap from the weekend.

“Those are some of the best defenders in basketball alongside Porzingis, who could protect the rim for a contender, allowing a second big to roam,” O’Connor wrote of the top pick-and-roll defenders in the league — whomst Porzingis sits amongst. “Imagine, say, Bam Adebayo of the Heat in that free-safety role, operating off the ball, kind of like how Jaren Jackson Jr. does for Memphis or Giannis Antetokounmpo does for Milwaukee. Porzingis would give Miami, or another team, a lot of scheme versatility.”

A player like Porzingis definitely would make a good addition for the Heat — an organization which many felt needed a sharpshooting big all season. The Latvian’s 38.5% clip from distance last season would be a welcome sight for Miami.

The former No. 4 overall pick played in 65 games for the Wizards last year, his most since the 2016-17 season. Porzingis was a force in those appearances, averaging 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. He shot 49.8% from the field to go along with his efficient percentage from beyond the arc.

Could Tyler Herro be Involved in a Kristaps Porzingis Trade to the Heat?

It’s going to take quite a bit for Porzingis to wind up in South Beach this summer. Again, he’d have to opt into the final year of his deal with Washington first, which NBA Insider Keith Smith reported to be likely.

On top of that, Miami would have to get the Wizards to agree to a trade to send the big man their way. One way that they could do that would be to dangle 23-year-old guard Tyler Herro.

According to The Action Network’s Matt Moore, the Heat were planning to explore trades involving Herro this summer even if they managed to land Beal.

“Miami is not expected to call it good if they get Beal, and instead look for more deals potentially involving Herro or [Duncan] Robinson (if he’s not included in the Beal deal),” Moore wrote. “Washington, league sources have said, are making Duncan Robinson as close to a requirement as they reasonably can, though there is some feeling that’s a leverage play to draw out more picks from the Heat.”

A Tyler Herro Trade Makes Sense for the Heat

Whether it be for Porzingis or another asset, the concept of Miami looking to move on from Herro makes a lot of sense.

The Heat climbed their way to the NBA Finals in a postseason where their No. 14 was sidelined with a broken hand. After a successful run without him, it feels like finding a trade involving the young guard would be found money for Miami.

Herro is slated to make $27 million next season, in the first year of a four-year, $120 million contract extension.

He suited up in 67 regular-games for the Heat last year, playing about 34.9 minutes each time. Herro averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, while shooting 43.9% from the field and 37.8% from beyond the arc.

Over the years, Miami Heat president Pat Riley has crafted a reputation as one of the game’s ultimate star hunters. It’s a reputation that’s well-earned, given past moves to bring the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Goran Dragic, Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry to South Beach.

Those moves have largely paid off, too, resulting in seven trips to the NBA Finals and three championships.

More recently, though, the Godfather has failed to reel in the big fish, coming up short in bids to land Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant and, now, Bradley Beal, who looks to be headed to the Valley of the Sun, according to multiple reports. According to The Athletic’s David Aldridge, however, Riley and Co. may have their eyes set on another headliner.

And they’re using their cornerstone player to help convince him that Miami is the place to be.

Wrote Aldridge on June 18: “Miami has clearly prioritized getting Damian Lillard from Portland, with Jimmy Butler a central part of the Heat’s recruiting pitch.”

Were the Miami Heat Eyeing a Dame Lillard Trade All Along?

On paper, Miami seemingly has more assets at its disposal than Phoenix where procuring Beal was concerned. But the three-time All-Star has a no-trade clause in his contract, and it would seem the Heat did not do what it took to convince both the Washington Wizards and Beal that they were the best trade option.

“While Washington wanted the multiple first-rounders the Heat were offering, it didn’t matter; Beal wanted to play in Phoenix. His wife and her family are from California, and KD and Booker are a smidge more potent offensively than Jimmy Buckets and Bam Adebayo,” Aldridge wrote. “The Wizards couldn’t stay in a holding pattern; unwilling to wait on the Heat, they turned to Phoenix.”

That said, it’s also possible that the Heat had Lillard pegged as their top target all along, a notion suggested on June 17 by The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson and Substack’s Marc Stein, and were unwilling to break the bank for their backup plan.

Lillard may be three years older than Beal at 32, but he’s also coming off what was arguably the most productive individual season of his career. In 58 games for the Portland Trail Blazers last season, the seven-time All-Star averaged 32.2 points, 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds with an effective field-goal percentage of 56.4.

Beal, meanwhile, logged a 23-5-4 line with an eFG% 55.1 and was even less available for the Wiz, logging a grand total of 50 appearances.

For a Heat team that struggled at times during the regular season to put up points — then saw those struggles return as their Finals bout with the Denver Nuggets progressed — Dame could be the better trade play.

Damian Lillard Finally Looks Ready to Leave Portland

Perhaps more than any player in the Association, Lillard has sacrificed his ability to compete for a title by remaining loyal to the team that drafted him. After 11 years in PDX, though, he hinted that he’d reached a point where he was willing to go where he needs to in order to get his ring.

“If we can’t do something significant like [making considerable roster upgrades], we won’t have a chance to compete on that level,” Lillard told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith in April. “Not only will I have a decision to make, but I think the organization will, too.”

While the Blazers will undoubtedly consult Dame on potential trades and take his opinion into account, he probably doesn’t have the same level of sway in those dealings without a no-trade clause working for him. So, the Heat may have to come out of the gate with a competitive offer to beat out what figures to be a number of other suitors.

Still, getting Lillard on board with the Heat as his best option can only aid in the cause. So, using Butler and whatever other tools they have at their disposal to get him into that headspace could be a difference-maker.

It’s been an active week for the Miami Heat in the rumor category. Of course, the team was linked to Bradley Beal before he was traded to the Phoenix Suns, as well as Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard.

On Sunday afternoon — just before the Beal trade was announced — a new rumor surfaced. The Action Network’s Matt Moore reported that regardless if the Heat landed the three-time All-Star, they’d still “look for” potential trades involving Tyler Herro.

“Miami is not expected to call it good if they get Beal, and instead look for more deals potentially involving Herro or [Duncan] Robinson (if he’s not included in the Beal deal),” Moore wrote. “Washington, league sources have said, are making Duncan Robinson as close to a requirement as they reasonably can, though there is some feeling that’s a leverage play to draw out more picks from the Heat.”

Miami’s shopping of Herro makes a ton of sense. They just made a run to the NBA Finals, in a postseason where he appeared in just one game. Next season Herro is slated to make $27 million, in the first year of a four-year, $120 million contract extension.

The 23-year-old appeared in 67 regular-games for the Heat last year, playing about 34.9 minutes each time. Herro averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, while shooting 43.9% from the field and 37.8% from beyond the arc.

Herro’s numbers weren’t bad by any standard, but it’s no surprise that the front office would want to use his contract to bring in more talent this summer in a potential trade.

Heat’s Focus Shifts to Damian Lillard

With Beal now off the board, Lillard has climbed to the top of Miami’s “We’re totally getting this guy” power rankings. Shortly after the news of Phoenix’s big move came to fruition, Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes revealed that the Heat are focused on landing the star guard from Portland.

“Miami’s focus is Portland superstar Damian Lillard with the genuine belief this could be the offseason the veteran guard seeks a change of scenery, league sources tell NBA on TNT, Bleacher Report,” Haynes reported in a tweet.

An important tidbit from Haynes’ report is that Lillard is going to have to seek a change of scenery in order for him to become available. It’s been well reported at this point that the Blazers are aiming to building a competitive team around the 32-year-old, rather than offloading him.

Kyle Lowry Likely to Be Included in Any Heat Blockbuster

In addition to Herro, veteran Heat guard Kyle Lowry will likely have to be involved in any major move the team makes this summer. Lowry is set to make just under $30 million next season, making him a prime asset that can be used to match salary.

Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney recently made a similar point, explaining that the 37-year-old would be integral to any blockbuster deal.

“His play during the postseason helped resuscitate his trade value. But as old as he is, and considering his inability to stay healthy (he missed five weeks with a sore left knee just before the playoffs), that resuscitation is limited. With Lowry slated to earn $29.6 million next season, he would almost have to be part of any major Miami trade—it would be difficult to bring in, say, Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal without sending out Lowry.”

While Victor Wembanyama will get the attention in this year’s NBA draft, make no mistake: Executives and scouts expect this to be a deep class, full of NBA-caliber defenders on the wing and potential stars at the point-guard spot. Teams like Indiana (three first-round picks, two second-rounders), Utah (three first-round picks) and Charlotte (two first-rounders, three second-rounders) are lined up to score big, either with rookie picks or with trades.

We have covered the lottery picks here: Mock Draft Picks 1-14 

And you can have a look at the second-round picks here: NBA Mock Draft 2nd Rounders

Below, we have a projection for the rest of the first round.

Picks 15-19: The Contenders (Lakers, Heat, Warriors) Get Their Men

15. Hawks. Keyonte George, SG, Baylor. George is a solid defensive player who can score in a variety of ways. He is not a jaw-dropping athlete or flawless shooter, but he notched 15.3 points per game in his only season with the Bears.

16. Jazz. Nick Smith, G, Arkansas.  The Jazz are candidates to make a trade with their two Top 20 picks, but they figure to be in position at No. 16 to grab a player who is also getting Top 10 consideration—in this case, Smith, a versatile scorer who could eventually replace Jordan Clarkson.

17. Lakers. Jett Howard, SF, Michigan. Howard was disappointing during his freshman year but did show that he can be a knockdown perimeter shooter, and those are in short supply. The Lakers still have Anthony Davis and LeBron James, of course, but they are building a potent supporting cast around them.

18. Heat. Jordan Hawkins, SG, UConn. The Heat could welcome a polished and accomplished shooter like Hawkins—a young guy who fits their win-now outlook. He did lead the Huskies to the national title, after all.

19. Warriors. Jaime Jaquez, SF, UCLA. Jack-of-all trades forward who has garnered interest from contenders looking to add a rotation player in the draft. There are not many of those, but Jaquez is 22 and has four years playing under Mick Cronin with the Bruins behind him.

Picks 20-25: Nets Nab 2 Role Players

20. Rockets. Olivier-Maxence Prosper, PF, Marquette. A long, defensive-minded combo forward with top-notch switchability. There will be teams considering OMP in the teens, and it’s possible the Rockets could deal out of this spot for a contender looking to bring him in.

21. Nets. Noah Clowney, PF, Alabama. The Nets are loaded with wings who can masquerade as power forwards, but Clowney could give them a player who is a no-doubt 4 capable of playing small-ball 5. If he develops as a shooter, he’d be a steal.

22. Nets. Brandin Podziemski, PG/SG, Santa Clara. The Nets could be heavily involved in trade activity in the next couple of weeks, but they do have back-to-back picks and could address their long-term needs in the backcourt. Podziemski has potential as a point guard and shot 43.8% as a 3-point shooter last season.

23. Trail Blazers. Andre Jackson, SF, UConn. No matter what direction the Blazers go, they’re going to need some defenders. If they have this pick, Jackson is dogged defender who can guard the perimeter and help in the middle.

24. Kings. Kris Murray, F, Iowa. Would it be too much to ask for the Kings to keep their magical season rolling by landing Keegan Murray’s twin brother, Kris, with the No. 24 pick? Kris Murray averaged 20.2 points and 7.9 rebounds as a junior at Iowa, so he may well be off he board. But if he is there, the Kings are almost required to take him.

25. Grizzlies. Jalen Hood-Schifino, PG, Indiana. Scouts have varying opinions on Hood-Schifino, and if he gets past the Jazz at No. 16, it could be a steep drop. He could get a chance to play early on with Ja Morant suspended.

Picks 26-30: Will the Pacers Keep Their Picks?

26. Pacers. GG Jackson, PF, South Carolina. Jackson has some red flags when it comes to maturity—his team was a mess this season—but he has potential as a two-way big man and it’s rumored he has a first-round promise.

27. Hornets. Colby Jones, SG, Xavier. Jones is a versatile scorer who could be a valuable bench asset early in his career, a glue-guy passer who can defend, too. He averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists, making 50.1% of his shots and 37.8% of his 3-pointers as a junior last year, a jack-of-all-trades who is NBA-ready.

28. Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh, G/F, Ohio State. The Jazz could look to move this pick, especially if Sensabaugh–a heavy-duty volume scorer who figures to be a solid sixth man in the NBA–is still on the board.

29. Pacers. Sidy Cissoko, SG, G-League. Cissoko is an underrated prospect who should land in the first round. He’s 6-foot-8 and struggles as a shooter, but he is NBA-ready defensively.

30. LA Clippers (expected to be traded to the Wizards). Amari Bailey, SG, UCLA. Bailey showed steady progress over the course of last season, and that could—probably should—land him in the first round. He was a much-hyped prospect who had a muted freshman season with the Bruins, but his consistent improvement is promising.

Check out Heavy Sports’ projected lottery picks here: Mock Draft Picks 1-14 

And Heavy’s projected second-round picks are here: NBA Mock Draft 2nd Rounders

Could Zach LaVine be the perfect compliment for Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo?

With Miami rumored to be interested in Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal, LaVine heading to South Beach feels like a long shot, but the way the chips have fallen so far in the offseason, it’s certainly a possibility.

Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports reported on June 15 that Chicago was asking around about LaVine, the team’s top scorer last season. Considering the Heat’s desire to add another difference-maker, LaVine could be an option.

“There’s been some level of understanding that (Miami is) trying to get Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo just another piece that can take the load off, especially during the regular season,” insider Shams Charania of The Athletic said on FanDuel TV on June 13.

The Tyler Herro Question

Charania also mentioned what trade pieces Miami might use: “Tyler Herro. They have three first round draft picks. That would be the base of the type of package that you’d need to go get a superstar player.”

The Heat, according to Charania, are one of two teams interested in Beal, but Miami has been averse to parting with Herro in particular. Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reported on June 17 that the Heat wanted to still add a big name without letting Herro go, but that may not be possible.

Veterans Duncan Robinson, Victor Oladipo and Kyle Lowry are rumored to be players Miami would be willing to unload. Chicago could use Lowry, as the Bulls need a point guard badly, but the Bulls would likely push for Herro, too. LaVine is Chicago’s best scorer, and he’s coming off a very solid season. The Bulls would surely want a young player like Herro in addition to multiple draft picks if they’re going to let LaVine go.

LaVine Would Help Heat, No Question

In 77 games with the Bulls last season, LaVine averaged 24.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Over his nine-year career, the 28-year-old LaVine has averaged 20.5 points, 4.0 boards and 3.9 assists.

Butler scored 22.9 points a game during the regular season, leading the Heat, while Adebayo was second with 20.4 points per contest, also leading the team in rebounds (9.2).

There’s little question adding a player of LaVine’s ilk would give Miami a boost offensively. After finishing with an NBA-worst 109.5 points a game last season, the Heat could use another scoring threat.

Elias Schuster of Bleacher Nation Bulls thinks a LaVine-to-Miami move isn’t crazy at all.

What if Suns Nab Beal?

“LaVine would give the Miami Heat the kind of reliable secondary scorer it surely needs,” Schuster wrote. “He would provide the spacing and shooting necessary to give Butler the room he needs to work, as well as the active off-ball presence that could slide in well around a solid playmaker in Adebayo. Miami held just the 25th-ranked offensive rating this regular season and shot the 4th-worst behind the arc. Adding LaVine into the mix would undoubtedly elevate that side of the ball.”

The Phoenix Suns are also rumored to be in the mix for Beal’s services, so Miami may have to pivot of Phoenix gets the Wizards star.

“Who is to say they wouldn’t turn their attention to LaVine?,” Schuster wondered about the Heat. “His scoring chops would only become that much more enticing, and he’s technically owed less than another potential trade candidate in the Wizards’ Bradley Beal.”

That’s true. Lavine is due $40 million next season, while Beal is set to make nearly $47 million. Still, LaVine remains a name to watch, but Miami seems to have its sights on Beal.

“I don’t consider a deal with Miami as unfathomable, but I certainly wouldn’t label it as the most likely landing spot,” Schuster added.

The Bradley Beal sweepstakes already look to be nearing their final stages, mere days after it was reported that the Washington Wizards cornerstone and his team could be kicking the tires on trade scenarios. And the Miami Heat are one of the last clubs standing.

Per a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania on Saturday, the Wizards are in “serious talks” with two finalists on a potential Beal trade — the Heat and the Phoenix Suns. Charania added that the Suns “have emerged as a serious threat” to acquire the three-time All-Star.

Beal, who has a no-trade clause in his contract that would have to be waived, has long been linked to Miami as the Wizards have failed to build a winning roster around him. And after their latest failed championship bid, the Heat are undoubtedly motivated to give Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo the extra hand they need to finally break through.

What’s more — the Heat may be able to put together a package that is more enticing to the Wizards than what the Suns can offer.

Heat Offer for Bradley Beal Would Almost Certainly Include Tyler Herro

The Heat have one key advantage over the Suns where pulling off a blockbuster trade is concerned. Specifically, the fact that they can throw draft picks into the deal.

Thanks to their deadline move to bring Kevin Durant back to the Western Conference and the Stepien rule, the Suns’ future first-rounders are essentially tied up for the rest of the decade. Miami, meanwhile, currently has just one outgoing first-round selection — a lottery-protected pick in 2025 that will turn into an unprotected first-rounder in 2026, if conveyed later.

Heat president Pat Riley can (and most certainly will) offer Tyler Herro as well, a player who could be incredibly valuable for a rebuilding team.

At 23 years old, Herro is still growing as an NBA player. However, he’s also a proven commodity as one of the more dynamic scorers in the Association. In 67 games last season, he averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He also shot 37.8% from three-point range and 93.4% from the charity stripe.

As productive as Herro has been, though, the Heat’s incredible run to the 2023 NBA Finals showed that they can survive without him.

There were times, particularly against the eventual-champion Nuggets, when their offense faltered, of course, but Beal would theoretically provide a better-rounded and more dependable option down the stretch than what the team currently has with Herro.

Perhaps the biggest question on the Heat’s side of the equation is how much they would have to give up to match Beal’s salary for the trade (and if they would still have enough behind the core to compete after doing so).

Suns May Have to Part With CP3 in Order to Secure Beal

It’s worth noting that Phoenix has some things working in its favor, too, like the fact that the club’s CEO, Josh Bartelstein, is the son of Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein. The Suns also have a blue-chipper of their own that they can offer up in former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton.

For his part, though, Bleacher Reports’ Chris Haynes has reported that it may take more for the Suns to swing a Beal trade, i.e. a certain future Hall of Famer:

Phoenix can offer a trade package of Deandre Ayton and Landry Shamet to Washington for Bradley Beal, but it’s believed a Chris Paul, Shamet deal is what it would take if Beal chose to force his way to the Suns via his no-trade clause, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.

This could actually work in the Suns’ favor, too, as there have been rumblings that the team could move on from Paul this summer. At one point, Haynes even reported that the Suns would waive the veteran floor general.

Former NBA champion point guard for the Toronto Raptors, Fred VanVleet, was pitched for the Miami Heat as a free agent alternative to Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving by Deadspin’s Criss Partee in an opinion piece published on June 15.

“VanVleet has championship experience, having been part of the 2019 Toronto Raptors title team playing next to current Heat point guard Kyle Lowry,” Partee prefaced before saying, “He might not be the splashy signing Irving would be, but he’d come in, work hard, and uphold Heat culture.”

Partee doesn’t feel Irving is worth the long-term contract he is expecting in free agency due to his past controversial behaviors; including but not limited to unexplained elongated midseason disappearances and his sharing of a movie deemed antisemitic by The New York Times.

“At this point, Kyrie is too much of a wildcard, especially if he expects that long-term deal he supposedly has his eyes on,” Partee wrote. “It’s true you have to think outside the box sometimes. But with Irving, you’re setting yourself up for failure more often than not lately.”

Fred VanVleet ‘More Realistic’ for Rockets Than Kyrie Irving

Continuing the trend of analysts preferring VanVleet to Irving, The Athletic’s Kelly Iko believes the former is a more realistic target than the latter is for the Houston Rockets and shared as much during The HoopsHype Podcast with Michael Scotto.

“The Kyrie to the Rockets link makes sense because he’s a talented point guard, but when you think of the logistics that have to go behind that deal, I’d be shocked if that happened,” Iko said. “The VanVleet thing is more realistic to me than Kyrie because it makes more sense. VanVleet is a bit younger. He’s also an NBA champion and a quality playmaker. His defense has regressed in recent seasons, but I think under the right guy, he can be reinvigorated.”

The New York Post’s Christian Arnold believes it’s “hard to imagine” Irving reuniting with his former teammate on the Brooklyn Nets, James Harden, who is heavily rumored to be mulling a return to the Rockets in free agency.

“While the Rockets have plenty of salary cap space, it would also be hard to imagine Houston convincing both Harden and Irving in joining up to play with one another again after the way things ended in Brooklyn,” Arnold wrote.

Kyrie Irving May Not Have Leverage If He Leaves Mavericks

Irving was traded for by the Mavericks at the 2023 trade deadline using Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a future first-round pick, and a second-round pick. Because of the value lost on a player who didn’t get Dallas into the 2023 postseason, the Mavericks are beholden to re-signing him in order to avoid upsetting Luka Doncic or the fans.

No other team has any obligation to add Irving, and as evidenced by the incessant suggestions that VanVleet could be a safer transactional path, many teams will likely look elsewhere before ever considering maxing out the 31-year-old.

Irving has leverage on the Mavericks to get a maximum contract, but he has no leverage elsewhere in free agency this offseason.

Bradley Beal and the Miami Heat have been in rumors together all week. News broke on Wednesday that the Washington Wizards would look to move the former All-NBA guard this summer, if the franchise decides to move towards a rebuild.

Beal’s contract included a no-trade clause, meaning that the organization needs his approval on any deal that he’s involved in.

Luckily for the Heat, it seems that he’d welcome a move to Miami. According to The Athletic’s Fred Katz, Beal “has had an eye on” them for years.

“Bradley Beal has had an eye on the Miami Heat for years,” Katz wrote. “The three-time All-Star has mulled over his future time and time again over the past few summers, even if his decision has always been to return to the Washington Wizards, the only organization he’s played for during his 11 NBA seasons. In those moments, according to sources, the Heat have consistently stood above the rest of the league. If Beal had a formal list, which he never has before, then Miami would have been right there at the top of it.”

The Heat being atop Beal’s list of preferred destinations would be great for any potential trade. Again, the 29-year-old’s no-trade clause makes it so he essentially controls his own destiny. Beal could all but force his way to the Heat, perhaps lowering the price in a possible exchange.

Mock Proposal Lands Heat Bradley Beal for Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry

The amount of Beal to Miami rumors that have been floated this week would make anyone curious what a potential trade would actually look like.

Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey took the time to outline a swap, that lands the three-time All-Star in South Beach for the cheap.

Miami Heat Receive: Bradley Beal and Monte Morris

Washington Wizards Receive: Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick

“With Beal essentially controlling the process, this may wind up being largely a cost-cutting move for the Wizards,” Bailey wrote. “If, for example, he says the Miami Heat is the only team he’ll play for, that front office isn’t going to pony up a massive offer for him. If he gives the team a list of suitors for which he’d decline that no-trade clause, there could be a bit of a bidding war.”

Herro and Lowry both make a fair share of cash, meaning that they alone would help the Heat match Beal’s salary to make the financial side of the trade work. The addition of a 23-year-old Herro would give Washington a piece for its rebuild, while Lowry’s expiring deal would give them cap flexibility for years to come.

Heat Listed as ‘Prominent Suitor’ For Bradley Beal

On top of Katz’s report indication that Beal would like to come to Miami, Shams Charania painted the Heat as a “prominent suitor” for him earlier this week.

“It is unclear whether the Wizards will ultimately decide upon a rebuild or if they find an acceptable trade, but sources said both sides are working amicably to find the path forward, with the 2023 NBA Draft looming on June 22,” Charania wrote. “The sources, who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter, said the Miami Heat are expected to be prominent suitors for Beal if he reaches the market.”

Charania’s report doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The Heat just came up short in the NBA Finals, after a run that did not include Herro, who was sidelined with a broken hand.

It would make sense for them to dangle the young star in any deal, while his potential would elevate Miami above other teams looking to land Beal.

It’s been a whirlwind of a week for the Miami Heat. They’ve been linked to just about every player that’s been rumored to be available, including Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal. News broke earlier this week that Washington would look to trade Beal, should they decided to blow it up and start a rebuild this summer.

In leu of the news, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey outlined what a potential trade could look like if Miami was to work out a deal to land the three-time All-Star from the Wizards.

Miami Heat Receive: Bradley Beal and Monte Morris

Washington Wizards Receive: Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick

This trade may seem on the cheaper side from a Heat perspective, and that’s because it is. Bailey explained that the no trade clause in Beal’s contract could play a major factor in the return that Washington nets in any trade.

“With Beal essentially controlling the process, this may wind up being largely a cost-cutting move for the Wizards,” Bailey wrote. “If, for example, he says the Miami Heat is the only team he’ll play for, that front office isn’t going to pony up a massive offer for him. If he gives the team a list of suitors for which he’d decline that no-trade clause, there could be a bit of a bidding war.”

From Washington’s perspective, this trade is a decent way to kick off a rebuild. Herro is a solid young player at just 23 years old and is under contract for the next four seasons. Lowry, essentially the complete opposite, old and on the decline, has just one year remaining on his deal, which will open $30 million in cap space for the Wizards next summer.

Heat Expected to Be ‘Prominent Suitors’ for Bradley Beal

Though Bailey’s trade proposal is purely hypothetical, Miami is indeed expected to be in on Beal should he become available this summer.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania labeled them as “prominent suitors,” shortly after the initial news broke on June 14.

“It is unclear whether the Wizards will ultimately decide upon a rebuild or if they find an acceptable trade, but sources said both sides are working amicably to find the path forward, with the 2023 NBA Draft looming on June 22,” Charania wrote. “The sources, who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter, said the Miami Heat are expected to be prominent suitors for Beal if he reaches the market.”

Kyle Lowry Will Be Important to Any Heat Trade This Summer

Another thing that Bailey hit on the nose in his mock trade was the inclusion of Lowry. Of course, it makes sense on the surface solely because of the money he makes.

However, after a solid playoff run off the bench, Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney believes the 37-year-old may have bumped his trade value a bit.

“His play during the postseason helped resuscitate his trade value. But as old as he is, and considering his inability to stay healthy (he missed five weeks with a sore left knee just before the playoffs), that resuscitation is limited. With Lowry slated to earn $29.6 million next season, he would almost have to be part of any major Miami trade—it would be difficult to bring in, say, Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal without sending out Lowry.”

Lowry appeared in 23 playoff games for the Heat this year, playing about 26 minutes each time. He averaged 9.2 points per game, while shooting 42.5% from the field and 37.5% from the bench. It was a run that he can still contribute in a smaller role as a bench scorer, despite his old age.

Every summer it seems as if the Miami Heat are interested in landing one of the league’s top performers. It makes sense, an organization that wants to compete has to bring in talent, right?

One star whose name has been linked to Miami this spring has been Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks. Irving’s contract expires on July 1, making him an unrestricted free agent.

The consensus on the 10-time All-Star is that he’ll be back in Dallas next year. However, he may have interest in joining the Heat.

According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman, Irving “wants to come” to Miami.

He told Brian Scalabrine so, during a recent appearance on his Sirius XM radio show.

“I do think Kyrie Irving wants to come here,” Winderman said on “The Starting Lineup.” “I don’t think the Heat are going to be subservient to Kyrie’s wishes. I will find that much more of a long shot.”

While the Heat don’t have the cap space to sign the superstar guard, that doesn’t mean that they can’t trade for him.

Players like Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, and even Duncan Robinson could possible serve as trade chips, helping the Heat to match whatever salary Irving’s new contract may pay out.

Heat Tried to Trade for Kyrie Irving Before Deadline

If Winderman’s report is true, then the interest between Irving and the Heat is mutual. Miami has long coveted the 31-year-old. They even tried to land him in a trade last season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

“Just to give you a glimpse of what they’ve looked at over the last several months, they made an offer to the [Brooklyn] Nets for Kyrie Irving at the deadline from what I’m told, right before he got traded to the Mavericks before the deadline,” Charania said of Miami. “They’re going to explore seeing what the star market is out there… Do they circle back on Kyrie Irving?”

Heat In the Market for a Star This Offseason

After failing to go all the way, falling to the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals, Miami is looking to add a star this summer. Whether it be Irving, Damian Lillard, or Bradley Beal the Heat are in the hunt.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Miami will “go hunting” for a star 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,” Windhorst said on the June 13 episode of ESPN’s “Get Up. “I don’t know if they’ll get one. I don’t know if it’ll all break their way.”

Windhorst wouldn’t name names, but said that the Heat could net a new star, should that player name South Beach as a preferred destination.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you who it is because I’ll get aggregated [Sorry, Windy!], but there are players they’re keeping an eye on and they have the ability to do it, especially if a player says, ‘Hey, send me to Miami,’” Windhorst added. “And they have a little window here before the second apron kicks in where they may be able to spend a little money. They have some draft picks they can trade. After the draft, they can access their 2030 pick. They have the 18th pick in this draft, not that that’s super interesting. I don’t think they can beat all comers on a star trade but if a player says, ‘Send me to Miami’ in the next two weeks, they are not in the worst position of all time to make it.”

There is something honorable, no doubt, in the path chosen by Wizards guard Bradley Beal. He has had multiple opportunities, in his 11-year NBA career, to force, push or nudge his way out of Washington, to look for a greener pasture where he’d be better set up to win.

He could have demanded a trade away from the Wizards back in 2019, when the team was coming off a 32-win showing, had dumped Ernie Grunfeld in favor of Tommy Sheppard and looked increasingly adrift. Instead, Beal signed a two-year extension, giving the Wizards time to get their house in order.

He could have sought a trade last year, too, but instead took a five-year, $251 million supermax deal from the Wizards that left him tethered to the organization for as long as the team wanted him there. Beal has shown loyalty to the Wizards organization, though he also admitted he did not have many other options.

The team reciprocated in the only way it could—short of being able to construct a winning roster around Beal, the team has instead paid him richly. It also has empowered him, with a no-trade caluse coming as part of that supermax deal.

But now, with the Wizards badly in need of a rebuild and new hoops honcho Michael Winger taking over the team’s roster, there has been talk of Beal and Washington parting ways. Ideally, it would happen quickly.

Things often down work out in ideal fashion, though. The Wizards are too late to trade Beal in hopes of getting a superstar package in return, but there is hope that he could yet rebuild value.

“They can’t hurry it,” one Eastern Conference general manager said. “If you’re talking about the market value, it’s as low as it has ever been on Brad. He only plays half your games and he is not playing at the same level he was. There is more risk if you are taking him right now than if you are Washington trading him away. Right now, you can get him for cap relief but you’re not going to a big package of picks.

“They’d be better off waiting, let him get on the floor and let him shine a little bit.”

Cap Relief Available to Wizards in a Beal Trade

If cap relief is all the Wizards are after, that won’t be hard to find. Beal is slated to make $46 million next season, and $50.3 million the year after that. In 2025-26, he will make $53.7 million, and has a player option for $57.1 million in the final year of his current deal.

He will be the fourth-highest paid player in the NBA next season.

If Beal wanted to go to Miami, the Heat could send out Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson, who are owed $87 million combined over the next three years (Lowry is in the final year of his contract). The Heat would not have to send out much more because (A) Beal has veto power over a trade and (B) the savings the Heat can offer might be as good as the Wizards could do for Beal.

The Clippers and Suns are other teams to watch for Beal, with payroll savings also being their chief bargaining chips. If a trade is to happen this offseason, the Wizards—and, by extension, Beal—have to count on one of those would-be contenders to be desperate enough to get Beal that they’ll find a way to load their offers with picks or young players.

With questions about Beal on the floor and bigger questions about how much he is being paid off it, a quick resolution here would not be in the Wizards’ best interests.

Health Has Been a Problem for Bradley Beal

It is no secret as to why Beal’s value has taken such a healthy blow: He can’t stay healthy. He has had wrist surgery twice, and has had persistent problems with his knees and hamstrings. After playing all 82 in back-to-back seasons from 2017-19, Beal missed seven games in 2019-20 and did not participate in the league Orlando bubble reset.

In his last three seasons, Beal has played in 150 of 236 games. The Wizards were decent enough when he played—73-77—but terrible when he was out, going 31-55. Along the way, Beal has seen his individual numbers slide, from 30.5 points per game in 2019-20 and 31.3 points in 2020-21, down to 23.3 points in each of the past two years.

Beal has been more averse on contact in his last two seasons, averaging just 4.8 free throws per game, well down from the 7.8 attempts he averaged the previous two years. Beal turns 30 next week, and there’s still some belief he can show he is healthy and bolster his trade value.

“If I was the one trading for him, I’d be a lot more comfortable doing it after I see him put together some healthy stretches, get his old scoring touch back, really show he is still an All-Star type of player,” the GM said. “Right now, if you trade for him, you are taking that as an article of faith. You’re hoping he can get back to being himself.

“I am not giving up three first-rounders for a hope. I want to see that he is still a guy who can go for 30 (points) and 10 (assists) on any given night.”

The Miami Heat promise to be one of the most intriguing teams to watch this offseason.

The Heat made it all the way to the NBA Finals as a No. 8 seed, something that has only been done once before, but the offseason always brings change, and rumors are already swirling that Miami may be ready to take some big swings in the coming months.

NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported on June 13 that Miami will be in the market for a superstar to pair with Eastern Conference Finals MVP Jimmy Butler, and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald echoed that sentiment. “The most realistic avenue for the Heat to improve its team is trading for a player who’s already under contract for next season,” Jackson wrote, also noting the Heat are expected “to pounce if a star becomes available.”

If no big deals can be worked out or no superstars become available, though, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report pitched a possible three-team trade that would send 3-point specialist Duncan Robinson packing and would bring Tim Hardaway Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks to South Beach.

Will Heat Keep Duncan Robinson Around?

Miami will certainly have some decisions to make about the contracts of a few returning players. Kyle Lowry is set to make around $29 million next season on an expiring deal, which is a lot of money to pay an aging backup point guard.

Robinson also has another problematic contract. Robinson has an $18 million salary for the 2023-24 season, although his value may have been boosted by his solid performance in the postseason. Robinson averaged 9.3 points and 2.1 rebounds a game in the playoffs, also hitting 44.2% of his shots from beyond the arc in 18.2 minutes per contest.

Those were better numbers than he put up during the regular season, when he scored 6.4 points a game and shot a career-worst 32.8% from downtown. Considering Robinson’s recent struggles, Buckley seems to think Hardaway would be a better option for Miami — although Buckley notes Hardaway’s four-year, $75 million contract is a bit of an overpay for his services.

“The Heat could have major interest in a player like Tim Hardaway Jr., who is overpaid for being a shooting specialist,” Buckley wrote. “Unlike Duncan Robinson, though, the 31-year-old at least still provides the shooting. He can be a bit streaky, but when he is on, he’ll have unguardable stretches.”

Would Hardaway Be Better for the Heat Than Robinson?

Buckley also notes that a third team would likely have to be involved in the swap. “As Dallas gets into desperation mode to fix its roster around Luka Dončić, it would almost certainly have interest in unloading Hardaway’s deal. The Heat have to find a way to add him while subtracting Robinson, likely in a three-team trade that gives the Mavericks win-now help and a third team a long-term asset or two.”

Hardaway, 31, played small forward last year after primarily being a shooting guard over his career, so he’s versatile enough to move around a bit. Last season, Hardaway played in 71 games (45 starts) and averaged 14.4 points and 3.5 rebounds a game and he shot 38.5% from distance. It was his ninth straight season scoring 14 or more points

Is Hardaway better for Miami than Robinson? There’s little doubt he might score more, but it wouldn’t warrant shipping Robinson off. Hardaway is two years older, and it can be argued Robinson is the better shooter from distance.

In the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, Robinson shot over 40% from 3-point range. Hardaway has never done that once in his 10-year career. Robinson had a down year for Miami, but he showed up when the team needed him most in the playoffs. The Heat might include him in a trade for one of those stars mentioned earlier, but swapping him for Hardaway feels like a lateral move at best.

Stop us if you’ve heard this before, “the Miami Heat are expected to be interested in making a trade for [insert disgruntled star’s name here].” Well, it’s “Groundhog Day” once again. Shortly after reports surfaced that the Washington Wizards and Bradley Beal could work to find the star a new home this summer, Miami was listed as a landing spot for him.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Heat are “expected to be prominent suitors for Beal.”

“It is unclear whether the Wizards will ultimately decide upon a rebuild or if they find an acceptable trade, but sources said both sides are working amicably to find the path forward, with the 2023 NBA Draft looming on June 22,” Charania wrote. “The sources, who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter, said the Miami Heat are expected to be prominent suitors for Beal if he reaches the market.”

Beal appeared in 50 games last season for the Wizards, playing about 33.5 minutes each time. He averaged 22.3 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 50.6% from the field and 36.5% from deep.

The 29-year-old is set to make $47.6 million next season, in the second year of a five-year, $251 million deal which he signed last summer.

Kyle Lowry May Be a Part of Any Major Heat Trade

In order to swing a deal for Beal, the Heat would have to match that salary, which they’ll be able to do because of the plethora of big contracts that they pay out. Players like Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, and perhaps Kyle Lowry could be names to keep an eye on as the rumors swirl.

Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney detailed the 37-year-old Lowry’s importance to Miami’s next big potential move just before the Beal news broke.

“His play during the postseason helped resuscitate his trade value. But as old as he is, and considering his inability to stay healthy (he missed five weeks with a sore left knee just before the playoffs), that resuscitation is limited. With Lowry slated to earn $29.6 million next season, he would almost have to be part of any major Miami trade—it would be difficult to bring in, say, Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal without sending out Lowry.”

Heat in the Market for a Star, Says Brian Windhorst

Miami being interested in star-level talent is nothing new. It’s actually the most predictable thing ever. The Heat are a franchise that wants to consistently compete for a championship. In order to that it requires talent.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently teased that Miami could be in the market for a star 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,” Windhorst said on the June 13 episode of ESPN’s “Get Up. “I don’t know if they’ll get one. I don’t know if it’ll all break their way.”

He wouldn’t go into detail about which players could be in their sights, but did highlight the many assets that they’ve got.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you who it is because I’ll get aggregated [Sorry, Windy!], but there are players they’re keeping an eye on and they have the ability to do it, especially if a player says, ‘Hey, send me to Miami,’” Windhorst said. “And they have a little window here before the second apron kicks in where they may be able to spend a little money. They have some draft picks they can trade. After the draft, they can access their 2030 pick. They have the 18th pick in this draft, not that that’s super interesting. I don’t think they can beat all comers on a star trade but if a player says, ‘Send me to Miami’ in the next two weeks, they are not in the worst position of all time to make it.”

The regular-season numbers were simply not there for Heat guard Kyle Lowry: 11.2 points, 5.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds. Not terrible for a guy who turned 37 in March but not great for a guy who was paid $28.3 million last season, especially not considering his 40.4% shooting and his 34.5% 3-point shooting.

But, though the playoff numbers were not outstanding, either (9.2 points, 4.4 assists, 3.5 rebounds), there were times throughout Miami’s surprising postseason run to the Finals when Lowry was the team’s saving grace, keeping a stagnant Heat offense from falling apart altogether.

Lowry spent most of the season as a starter but became the Heat’s sparkplug sixth man in the playoffs. It was a role that suited him, and suited the Heat. But as Miami looks for ways to upgrade the roster and remains on the hunt for another superstar player to pave the way back to the Finals, Lowry has become an interesting case.

His play during the postseason helped resuscitate his trade value. But as old as he is, and considering his inability to stay healthy (he missed five weeks with a sore left knee just before the playoffs), that resuscitation is limited. With Lowry slated to earn $29.6 million next season, he would almost have to be part of any major Miami trade—it would be difficult to bring in, say, Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal without sending out Lowry.

The Heat also have regained some appreciation for Lowry and how he can potentially help the bench next season. Whether that appreciation is enough to keep him in South Florida is an open question, though.

Miami Overpaid Lowry in 2021

When the Heat signed Lowry in 2021, they were expecting competition from multiple teams and moved quickly to lock up Lowry in free agency. A little too quickly, in fact—Miami was fined for tampering because they signed Lowry almost immediately after free agency began. The Heat did themselves no favors, too, by way overbidding on Lowry, giving him a three-year contract worth $85 million.

Lowry has not lived up to the deal, mostly because of injury but in part because of a natural decline that comes with age. He was shopped this season at the trade deadline (to Minnesota for D’Angelo Russell and to Brooklyn for Kyrie Irving, among other places) as the Heat looked to upgrade their backcourt, but there were no takers.

Lowry is expected to be on offer again this summer, in the final season of his contract. The Heat could include first-round draft picks in Lowry deals, with a pick available this year (No. 18 overall), as well as in 2027 and 2029.

Expect the Heat to be measured in their pursuit of Lowry deals, though. At one point, they would have liked to simply be out of Lowry’s money altogether. But now, he has re-established his postseason value, and if the Heat can keep some other key members of their rotation in place – Gabe Vincent, especially – Miami is a bit more willing to focus on retaining the current group for next year.

If Max Strus signs elsewhere, the Heat could still come back with a backcourt of Vincent and Tyler Herro, with Lowry off the bench. Caleb Martin and Victor Oladipo, and perhaps another reclamation project (Kendrick Nunn is a name to keep an eye on, sources say) could add depth.

Should the Heat miss out on top-tier star trade targets, a source told Heavy Sports the team would be fine with coming back featuring that backcourt. “It’s not a bad option to have, the way he played,” the source said. “It’s not a desperate kind of thing.”

Lowry Showed Value as 6th Man

That means the end of the line for Lowry in Miami is not as imminent as it would have seemed two months ago.

During the playoffs, coach Erik Spoelstra was asked about Lowry and his willingness to play off the bench.

“Kyle, he’s all about winning. At this stage in his career, when you have more yesterdays than you have tomorrows, it’s really about these kind of competitive moments on the biggest stage,” Spoelstra said. “That’s what drives him more than anything, is the ultimate competition.

“It was a relatively easy decision to take him off the bench because we had to shut him down for five weeks, and when he came back, he had a minutes restriction that he and I were aware of. The first game he came back I played him 36 minutes, so the head coach got yelled at by everybody. Kyle and I met the next day and we were both laughing about it. We needed to protect each other. The only way to do that was to bring him off the bench so we could control the minutes.”

He fared well in the role. He just might stay in it next year.

Udonis Haslem — a 305 lifer and Heat cornerstone for two full decades — is officially riding off into the sunset after a career that saw him win three championship rings. And while his last contest didn’t end as he or anyone in South Florida had hoped, the 43-year-old was nonetheless overcome with feelings of gratitude during his postgame presser.

“Oh, man, honestly, I wanted to get the win, but I’m proud of my guys, proud of my team,” Haslem said. “I have no regrets. I just thanked those guys for giving me this amazing memory to take with me.

“So, I tell the guys, I have no complaints, I have no regrets. I’m thankful. They gave me a final season that I will never, ever forget. That’s all I can ask for.”

Udonis Haslem Still Thinking About the Heat Getting Back to the Promised Land Next Season

Haslem may have hit the NBA hardwood for the final time (after more than 1,000 combined regular season and playoff games), but the ex-baller still finds himself looking ahead to the Heat’s next attempt at capturing a title.

Specifically, he wants his teammates to bottle up the frustration they’re feeling amid the loss to the Nuggets and use it as fuel during the 2023-24 season.

“I’m already thinking about next year. My message to the guys was don’t forget about how you feel right now. Don’t forget everything they wrote about you. Don’t forget about everything they said about you,” Haslem said.

“Because for 20 years, I’ve been feeling the same way about the people who have been writing about me. For 20 years, I’ve been feeling the same way about the people that didn’t draft me. And for 20 years, I’ve been fighting the same battles. And what you see right now is the finished product, because I kept that chip on my shoulder.”

A Special Group

Despite the fact that the Heat were unable to finish the job against Nikola Jokic and Co., Haslem took pride in the fact that he and his teammates — many of whom were undrafted and/or unheralded upon entering the Association — were able to prove the doubters wrong in series after series.

Just as he had done throughout his career.

“This team, truly, truly, more so than any other team I’ve played for, just embodied who I am and what I stand for,” he said. “Not letting anybody pigeonhole you and tell you what you should be, taking that attitude that we can show you better than we can tell you, and literally once again just overcome obstacle after obstacle, getting knocked down and getting up and getting up and getting up.

“This team just embodies everything that I’ve been about for my 20 years, and I’m happy they got a little taste of what it feels like to be in the Finals. I told them they deserve it.”

Pat Riley and the Miami Heat are almost always in the market for star-level talent. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, this summer will be no different. He said Miami has plenty of assets they’d be willing to offload but that it might not be enough for them to land a big fish this year.

“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,” Windhorst said on the June 13 episode of ESPN’s “Get Up. “I don’t know if they’ll get one. I don’t know if it’ll all break their way.”

After only 44 regular-season wins but a trip to the NBA Finals, which ended in a loss on June 12, the Heat could look to improve via trade, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.

Windhorst was coy about stars who could be available on the trade market.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you who it is because I’ll get aggregated [Sorry, Windy!], but there are players they’re keeping an eye on and they have the ability to do it, especially if a player says, ‘Hey, send me to Miami,’” Windhorst said. “And they have a little window here before the second apron kicks in where they may be able to spend a little money. They have some draft picks they can trade. After the draft, they can access their 2030 pick. They have the 18th pick in this draft, not that that’s super interesting. I don’t think they can beat all comers on a star trade but if a player says, ‘Send me to Miami’ in the next two weeks, they are not in the worst position of all time to make it.”

Damian Lillard Calls Heat ‘Obvious’ Trade Destination

Speaking of players saying, “Send me to Miami,” Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard essentially did that.

On the June 7 episode of “The Last Stand,” Lillard told Brian Custer that the Heat were the most appealing of all the teams he’s been tied to.

“Miami obviously,” Lillard said when about potential destinations. “Miami is the obvious one. And Bam [Adebayo] is my dog. Bam is my dog, for real. But, I mean, I think Miami the obvious one. Brooklyn is another obvious one ’cause Mikal Bridges is my dog too.”

The Miami Heat Tried to Trade for Kyrie Irving, Will Chase Him in Offseason

Another name recently linked to Miami is Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks. The superstar guard’s contract expires this summer, making him an unrestricted free agent. It’d be somewhat surprising if he was to leave Dallas, solely because he spent only half a season there after being traded in February.

Before the Mavs landed Irving in February, the Heat tried to acquire him, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, and might take another swing at him this summer.

“Just to give you a glimpse of what they’ve looked at over the last several months, they made an offer to the [Brooklyn] Nets for Kyrie Irving at the deadline from what I’m told, right before he got traded to the Mavericks before the deadline,” Charania said June 13 on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back.” “They’re going to explore seeing what the star market is out there, Do they circle back on Kyrie Irving?”

Rumors in the NBA are undefeated. Less than 24 hours after the Miami Heat‘s season came to and end in the NBA Finals, reports have surfaced in regards to their next big move.

On June 13, Shams Charania of The Athletic and FanDuel TV reported that the Heat are looking to add another star player this summer. He teased the possibility of Miami chasing after Dallas Mavericks free agent star Kyrie Irving again this offseason, after they tried to trade for him ahead of the deadline this year.

“Just to give you a glimpse of what they’ve looked at over the last several months, they made an offer to the [Brooklyn] Nets for Kyrie Irving at the deadline from what I’m told, right before he got traded to the Mavericks before the deadline,” Charania said of Miami. “They’re going to explore seeing what the star market is out there… Do they circle back on Kyrie Irving?”

Though the Heat’s interest in the star guard is evident, it’s unlikely that they’d be able to find a way to bring him to town. In order for Irving to head to South Beach, the two sides would have to agree on a sign-and-trade, which Dallas has reportedly no interest in, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer.

“That would require some cooperation from the Mavericks, who have so far signaled little willingness to entertain a possible sign-and-trade for Irving with the Lakers, sources said,” Fischer wrote.

Though his report was about Dallas not wanting to deal with the Lakers specifically, it’s tough to imagine that they’ll be eager to offload Irving, after making a push to land him back in February.

Kyrie Irving Previously Linked to Heat

This isn’t the first time that Irving’s name has been tied to Miami. Earlier this year, before he was traded to the Mavericks, an anonymous Western Conference general manager told Heavy Sports‘ Sean Deveney that the Heat will look to land the 10-time All-Star this summer. The difference was that there was speculation that he may just take a pay-cut to join the Heat, rather than garnering a sign-and-trade.

“Kyrie will have to decide what he wants to do next—does he want to pick where he wants to go and take a taxpayer exception (about $7 million) or does he want to make as much money as he possibly can? Because the Mavs will give him more than anyone else will, so if that is the decision, then it is pretty simple,” the source explained to Deveney. “But, we have seen how Kyrie is with teaming up with players. Could he take $7 million to go play with LeBron and the Lakers, or take $7 million to play in Phoenix? Miami was interested, too. They would be again. Sure, he has said that money is not that important and this would be how he could show it, I suppose.”

Irving will almost certainly cost whichever team he signs with more than $7 million.

Heat Will Likely Be Priced Out of the Kyrie Irving Sweepstakes

Heading into the summer, Miami is projected to be about $62 million over the salary cap, per Spotrac, meaning that their options will be limited when it comes to landing free agents.

Plus, it was reported that Irving and the Mavericks had a “handshake agreement” on a new deal, prior to his move to Dallas. That report was said to be untrue, but a later report from NBA Insider Marc Stein indicates that Irving intends to stay with the Mavs, who have more money to pay him than Miami.

“Yet two sources close to the process insisted Monday that Irving has consistently expressed a desire to remain a Maverick and actually wants to shut down the notion that he’s angling to get to L.A.,” Stein wrote on June 5. “‘He wants to stay,’ said one source. The clear signals Monday out of Dallas suggest that the Mavericks believe that. With or without a LeBron reunion.”

The Miami Heat fell short in the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets, losing in five games, but as the No. 8 seed in the East, the Heat exceeded expectations while giving its fans an entertaining ride along the way.

The Heat took down three of the top four seeds in the conference to make it to the finals, beating the top seeded Milwaukee Bucks, the No. 4 seed New York Knicks and the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics. Led by forward Jimmy Butler, Miami, who had the lowest-scoring offense in the league during the regular season (109.5 points per game), won the play-in tournament and went further than any previous play-in winner.

Still, the Heat couldn’t overcome two-time MVP Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets, who took the series and won their first NBA championship with a 94-89 victory in Game 5.

Despite his incredible efforts throughout the postseason, many fans and analysts alike took to Twitter to take shots at Butler after the loss.

Twitter Reacts to Jimmy Butler, Heat After Finals Loss

Butler finished with 21 points in Game 5, going 5-of-18 on his field goal attempts in game 5, also adding three rebounds, five assists and three steals (stats via Basketball Reference). He scored 13 of his team-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, but he also had a critical turnover late in the game and he missed a potential game-tying shot.

Jimmy Buckets averaged 21.6 points, 6.4 assists, and 4.6 rebounds in five games against the Nuggets and he tallied 26.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists throughout the playoffs, but he didn’t put up huge numbers in Game 5, and Twitter had plenty to say about it.

Butler didn’t have a great night shooting in the final game of the series, making 27.8% of his shots from the field, and that was noted also:

It was the second time Butler has lost in the finals while with the Heat, (the first time was back in 2020) and some fans chided Butler for that:

It’s also possible — although Butler denies this — that the sprained ankle he suffered in Game 1 of the conference semifinals on April 30 limited him in the following games. Butler averaged 37.6 points a game in Round 1 against the Bucks, and he wasn’t nearly as explosive in any subsequent series.

Analyst Will Manso, who covers the Heat, noted that the Heat star’s ankle could be a factor:

Twitter can be a disparaging place, but there weren’t only negative responses to Butler’s game. Some focused on the success Miami has had since Butler’s arrival:

While others noted Butler and starting center Bam Adebayo may need a better supporting cast around them in order to win it all:

Butler Takes Blame, Credits Teammates After Game 5 Loss

To his credit, Butler owned his mistakes after the Heat’s Game 5 loss. When Butler was asked his thoughts on the game’s final minutes, he gave a candid reply: “That I turned the ball over. That’s what stood out,” Butler said.

He also took the time to shower his teammates with praise. “You never know what the team is going to look like next year, the year after that. I’m just grateful,” he said.

“I learned so much, they taught me so much. I wish I could have done it for these guys because they definitely deserve it. The one thing that I’m going to take from it is how great I am for being able to compete with them,” he added.

Now, with the offseason officially underway, Miami will likely make some significant moves to help Butler and Adebayo. Whatever the Heat decide to do, Twitter will surely have an opinion about it.

The Miami Heat have officially shifted to do-or-die mode in their NBA Finals bout with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Entering Game 5 at Ball Arena on Monday night, Erik Spoelstra‘s squad finds itself in a 3-1 hole, having been outscored by 14.7 points per 100 possessions over the last two games (both losses).

However, the team may be getting some long-awaited help in righting the ship and, potentially, getting the series back to Miami for a sixth game.

Per a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, star guard Tyler Herro — who was upgraded to questionable on the latest official injury report — will attempt to make his return in the contest.

Added Woj: “The hope is that Herro doesn’t suffer a setback ahead of Game 5 and can still manage the discomfort in his right hand, sources said.”

Can Herro Really Help Het’s Scuffling Offense After Lengthy Absence?

Herro has been out of commission since Game 1 of Miami’s first-round series against the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks on April 16. The 23-year-old suffered a broken hand while diving for a loose ball and was ultimately forced to undergo surgery.

Afterward, the Heat gave an initial timeline of at least six weeks before a return would be possible.

On paper, Herro — who averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game and knocked down 37.8% of his three-point attempts arc during the regular season — is precisely the kind of player the Heat could use right now. The team has logged a paltry offensive rating of 103.3 and is 19-for-60 from deep over the last two games.

That said, it’s difficult to know what can reasonably be expected from the 2022 Sixth Man of the Year after a two-month absence.

For perspective, Herro was brought back for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics last season after having missed three straight games with a groin injury. He played all of seven minutes and missed both of his shot attempts in that contest, and the Heat ultimately lost by a 100-96 mark.

Elsewhere on the injury report, only Victor Oladipo (left knee surgery) is listed as out.

Max Strus Namechecked as Potential Free-Agent Overpay

One of the parties most responsible for Miami’s long-range shortfall against the Nuggets is Max Strus, who’s connecting at just a 19.2% rate from behind the arc during the Finals. However, the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent is nonetheless eyeing a major pay raise this summer.

As Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley sees it, whichever team ends up obliging him may end up regretting it:

His form looks pure, and he can heat up in a hurry, but he was also just a 35 percent shooter from distance this season. That’s a tick below league-average, which is hardly what you want to see from someone who’s essentially a shooting specialist. He hustles and competes defensively, but he isn’t an elite athlete nor much of an off-the-dribble creator.

If teams are paying him primarily for his shooting, they should be cautious of investing too much in a specialist. Modern teams might prioritize shooting now more than ever, but there haven’t exactly been great returns on the big deals given to Dāvis Bertāns or Strus’ teammate, Duncan Robinson. And both of those players, by the way, showed more promise from the perimeter than Strus has.

Win, lose or draw, it is tempting to look at the Heat’s presence in these NBA Finals has a major victory for a team that barely earned a spot in the postseason at all. Miami, of course, lost its first play-in game to Atlanta and trailed for most of its second play-in against the Bulls before pulling out the win and securing the No. 8 seed.

Then came the shocking first-round upset over the Bucks, and the grinding conference semifinal win over the Knicks. That was followed by a wild seven-game victory over the heavily favored Celtics, the No. 2 seed in the conference and possessors of the second-best record in the league.

Down, 3-1, heading back to Denver in this series, an NBA championship looks like a longshot. Certainly, even without a trophy, the Heat can take some pride in what they’ve done to this point.

Hmm, don’t tell that to Jimmy Butler. Asked if there was some appreciation for what the team has done to get to this point, Butler said, “Not at all.”

Jimmy Butler: ‘It’s About Holding That Trophy’

Given Butler’s almost maniacal focus on a championship, maybe that response is not all that surprising. The Heat have 13 wins in this postseason, the most ever for a No. 8 seed. Butler, too, has been especially impressive, with 571 points in the playoffs, the fourth-most ever by a Heat player, behind only LeBron James (twice) and Dwyane Wade.

Butler has had one of the biggest improvements in the league from the regular season to the playoffs, going from 22.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists to 27.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists. But Butler is not impressed with all this unless there is a Larry O’Brien trophy as part of the package.

“At the beginning of this year, we talked about winning a championship, competing to get to this point. So that’s always the goal,” Butler said on Sunday. “It’s always a goal with the Heat. It’s about winning. It’s not about individual anything. It’s about holding that trophy collectively as a unit, to be the best team.

“That’s where we’re at. All the odds, 8 seed, dadadadada, nah, none of that matters. It’s just two really good basketball teams. One has to get one win, and one has to get three. Let’s just hope that the other that has to get three, gets three.”

Game 5 of 2020 Finals Has No Bearing on Butler

During his meeting with the media on Sunday in Denver, Butler’s Game 5 performance in the 2020 NBA Finals against the Lakers, when he scored 35 points with 12 rebounds and 11 assists, was referenced. That came with the Heat down, 3-1, and Butler’s output helped keep Miami alive before losing in Game 6.

Maintaining his focus, Butler shrugged off the notion that he could draw anything from that game.

“Absolutely nothing. I think I was a different player then,” Butler said. ”The team looked a lot different then. I don’t even think about it. I think the group of guys that we have now, if that’s what the game says you need to do, then maybe that’s what happens.

“But I honestly don’t think about 2020, 2021, none of that. We’re in this time right now. So I have to be the best version of myself now, along with everybody else on this roster.”

On the eve of Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Finals, a nonzero number of Miami Heat fans have probably begun thinking about the offseason and the campaign to come. Sure, the Heat have made a living out of defying the odds during their current playoff run, but overcoming a 3-1 deficit against a two-time league MVP is another beast entirely.

Miami’s wild march to the championship round notwithstanding, the club has some clear areas of shortfall on its roster; things that need to be sorted in order to avoid another bumpy ride next season.

As Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz sees it, the biggest hole in need of filling lies at the power forward position. And while the analyst opined that Kevin Love could be brought back as a “low-cost option,” he observed that the baller’s advancing age and inability to play heavy minutes probably preclude him from being the answer there.

Free-agent-to-be Kyle Kuzma, on the other hand, could be a difference-maker for the offensively-challenged Heat.

Kyle Kuzma Floated as Power Forward Target for the Heat

Jimmy Butler‘s offensive potency played a key role in getting the Heat to the Finals. With his overall production dipping slightly to 21.8 PPG and multiple teammates struggling against the Nuggets, though, the team has largely failed to keep pace with Nikola Jokic and Co.

Enter Kuzma, who Swartz sees as a possible catalyst for bigger and better things on that side of the ball:

Kuzma is coming off a career-high 21.1 points per game, giving Miami another go-to option on offense to complement Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. He brings the floor-spacing like Love and should be entering his prime at age 27.

The big hang-up here is the money. If Kuzma opts out of the final year of his current deal, he’ll undoubtedly command a salary in excess of $20 million per annum on the open market. That’s a figure the cash-strapped Heat can’t really pay out.

So, the best (only?) avenue toward bringing the playmaking big man to South Beach is pulling off some kind of trade. And the Heat would likely have to build an asset-laden package in order to get Kuzma’s current squad, the Washington Wizards, to play ball.

Could a Jae Crowder Reunion Be Miami’s Plan B?

Before he landed with the Milwaukee Bucks, there were rumblings that Jae Crowder could return to the team he helped get to the 2020 Finals. And Swartz sees logic in the Heat exploring a renewed partnership again this summer:

A reunion with Crowder should be considered, as the veteran forward was the starter on Miami’s 2020 run to the Finals as well. He started all 21 games that postseason for the Heat, chipping in 12.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and shooting 34.2 percent from three.

It’s worth noting, though, that Crowder is no spring chicken at almost 33, and he was essentially out of Milwaukee’s rotation by the postseason. So while there’s a level of familiarity there — and he would come significantly cheaper than Kuzma — the ex-Heat forward may not be enough of a needle-mover for the Heat at this juncture.

For the South Beach faithful, much of the enthusiasm that has been fostered by the Miami Heat‘s unlikely run to the 2023 NBA Finals dissipated on Friday night. Despite the fact that Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray were limited in the damage they dealt, the Denver Nuggets still prevailed over Jimmy Butler and Co. by a 108-95 mark in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead.

It’s not just fans that are grappling with the enormity of the job Miami now faces in overcoming the deficit. Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson said the Heat were a “disappointed” group in the wake of the loss. And head coach Erik Spoelstra was OK with his players being all up in their feels.

For the night, anyway.

“I told the guys, ‘Feel whatever you want to feel tonight. It’s fine. You probably shouldn’t sleep tonight any amount of time. I don’t think anybody will,'” Spoelstra relayed to reporters after the contest.

“We have an incredibly competitive group. We’ve done everything the hard way, and  that’s the way it’s going to have to be done right now, again.”

Heat’s Only Objective Now Is to Get the Series Back to Kaseya Center

Clearly, history is not in the Heat’s favor as a team that needs to win out in order to take the series. As ever, though, Spoelstra’s club won’t be concerning itself with the bigger picture. Right now, it’s all about the task that lies directly ahead; living to fight another day.

“All we are going to focus on is getting this thing back to the 305. Get this thing back to Miami,” Spoelstra said. “And things can shift very quickly.”

“It’s going to be a gnarly game in Denver that is built for the competitors that we have in our locker room. By the time we are getting on that plane, all we’re thinking about is get this thing back to Miami. We get an opportunity to play a super competitive game in a great environment. That’s going to be an awesome.”

Just getting Game 5 against a Nuggest team that’s 9-1 at home with a point differential of 10.4 this postseason will be tough. Alas, the Heat have battled adversity throughout the 2022-23 campaign and, to this point, it has largely brought out the best in them.

Said center Bam Adebayo: “Our whole season hasn’t been easy. We just seem like we just — we  won’t quit. And I feel like that’s what he means. We just will not quit.”

Jimmy Butler Isn’t Throwing in the Towel

For his part, Heat cornerstone Jimmy Butler has faith that his team can still hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy. He knows full well, though, that some things will have to change in order for that to occur.

“Same thing it’s always been, it’s one game at a time. Now we are in a must-win situation every single game, which we’re capable of,” Butler told reporters. “Some correctable things we’ve got to do, but it’s not impossible. We’ve got to go out there and do it. We’ve got three to get.”

Kevin Love would be a “fitting” signing for the Dallas Mavericks if the franchise was somehow able to land LeBron James this offseason — this, at least, according to The Smoking Cuban’s Josh Cornelissen.

“If LeBron James and Kyrie Irving are going to reunite in Dallas, it’s only fitting that Kevin Love join them too,” Cornelissen wrote. “Is there a place for Love to rejoin his former co-stars in Dallas? Almost certainly. Especially if they can stay under the second tax apron and offer him the full Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception.”

While he didn’t have the biggest role in that year’s NBA Finals, Love was a major component of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers playoff run that ended with a series comeback against the Golden State Warriors — a team that had just broken the NBA’s all-time regular season wins record, no less — to bring the Cavs the first title in franchise history.

Love is showing that he still has plenty left in the tank during the 2023 NBA Finals for the Miami Heat, averaging eight points and five rebounds with a 43.8% conversion rate from beyond the arc against the Denver Nuggets.

Kevin Love Has Brought ‘Joy’ to Miami Heat During Playoff Run

If it weren’t for Love, the Heat may not have made a Cinderella run through the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Max Strus said that Love has brought Miami much-needed “joy” since signing with the Heat following a buyout from the Cavaliers.

“He brought some joy to it,” Heat wing Max Strus said ahead of Game 3 (h/t Miami Herald). “He brings a positive attitude and he’s got a great sense of humor and just knows the right time to liven it up a little bit. We kind of needed that. We needed somebody to come in that was a veteran like that, that’s been here, that knows the right moments to keep it light and keep us at ease. He’s just done a great job of that, just being a great veteran to everybody.”

Love said he’s “unapologetically” being himself.

“I think just being myself, unapologetically,” Love said. “I’m very grateful for them that they accepted me throughout the entire organization, just being myself, on the floor, off the floor. I think that helped me get acclimated. But also people that I’ve been around — I like to keep it light. I like to get to know my teammates on and off the floor personally but also professionally, see how I can best help them, uplift them and get the best out of them.”

Cavaliers Letting Kevin Love Go Was a ‘Mistake,’ Says Analyst

According to King James Gospel’s Tony Camino, the Cavaliers letting Love go mid-season was a mistake, but only because the players who got those minutes instead didn’t rise to the occasion in Cleveland.

“All in all, the Cavs at their best did not have a consistent role for Kevin Love to get minutes,” Camino wrote. “He would’ve only seen big minutes versus the Knicks once the series was swaying in the Knicks’ favor and we desperately tried to add shooting. I doubt Love was okay with being out of the rotation, and the organization and city owed it to him to let him go somewhere he can contribute. The decision ended up being a mistake, but only because Cleveland’s players did not perform nearly up to the level that they are capable of.”

The Cavaliers were unceremoniously bounced from the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in five games by the New York Knicks. Since James left the franchise in 2018 free agency, that was Cleveland’s best finish.

Increasingly, it appears that Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is gearing up for the moment for which folks around the NBA have been waiting: He is preparing to get together with the team’s front office and look for a trade.

Having spent 11 brilliant seasons with Portland, both the Blazers and Lillard are expected to approach the situation as a collaborative effort, the team offering deals and markets (i.e., nothing in the West, please) it would be willing to accept, and Lillard offering his input on where he’d most like to be.

But Lillard might not be making things all that easy for himself. Just this week, he told Showtime’s Last Stand show that he considers Miami and Brooklyn his top two destinations — though it should be pointed out that he was not eliminating teams like Philadelphia and New York.

One of Lillard’s close media friends, Chris Haynes of TNT, told the Dan Patrick Show that Lillard has no interest in playing for the Celtics.

“He’s not doing Boston,” Haynes said.

The more teams that are eliminated from a potential trade destination list, of course, the more difficult it becomes for the trading team to get fair value for the player. For Portland, that is a concern. Maybe Lillard would not do the Celtics, but it is not helpful to the trade process for the world to know that, not when Celtics star Jaylen Brown is, arguably, the top potential trade target in the NBA this summer.

As Kareem Abdul-Jabbar—who requested a trade from Milwaukee in 1974 under hush-hush conditions—once told me, “I don’t know why these guys all spill everything about where they want to go. If your goal is to be traded, how does that help the cause?”

Lillard Trades to Include Nurkic?

There could be a complicating factor when it comes to Lillard, too. While the team is expected to do right by Lillard to whatever extent is possible, there is also the matter of center Jusuf Nurkic, who is entering the second of a four-year, $70 million extension. Nurkic is only 28, but still, if Portland moves on from Lillard, moving Nurkic’s money would be part of the goal, too.

“I would not say it would be a package deal or anything like that,” one Eastern Conference GM told Heavy Sports. “But Portland is going to prefer where they can trade Dame and say, ‘Here’s Nurk, too.’

“Portland is looking to move on there (from Nurkic), and if you are going to have Lillard in a blockbuster kind of trade, you’d like to clear your sheet as much as possible. Put (Nurkic) into a deal and you have some more flexibility in terms of what you’re getting back, and you can get yourself really set up for rebuilding.”

Nurkic-Lillard Packages Could Have More Value

That could actually work out well for the Blazers. Nurkic has struggled to stay healthy since suffering a gruesome broken leg in March 2019, and has played in only 145 games in the last three seasons, but he is still an effective and starting-caliber center, with averages of 13.5 points and 9.8 rebounds. He’s also made an effort to stretch his game to the 3-point arc, and made a career-high 36.1% of his 3s last year on 119 tries.

He had attempted 138 total 3-pointers in eight NBA seasons before last year.

Insisting a team take back Nurkic would allow the Blazers to do a trade with the Nets that could land them Ben Simmons, Dorian Finney-Smith (who could be traded to a third team) and 24-year-old Nic Claxton, plus draft assets.

Adding Nurkic to the mix would also help in a potential Miami deal, with the Blazers having the room to take back both Kyle Lowry (as salary filler, and likely to be waived in such a deal) and Tyler Herro for Lillard. Portland could also get back Nikola Jovic and future draft assets.

It will not be easy for the Blazers to get back fair value for Lillard, and it is even harder when his desires are so publicly known. But including Nurkic would help the team get a bit more talent and youth back, and would get them out of the next three years of Nurkic’s money.

Despite the fact that their team fell short in Game 3 of its NBA Finals matchup with the Denver Nuggets (at home, no less), Miami Heat fans received a legitimate treat on Wednesday night.

For the first time since Round 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Heat’s OG — Udonis Haslem — made an appearance on the court.

It wasn’t the most memorable of his recent cameos; Haslem played all of 29 seconds at the end of the blowout loss, missing his only shot attempt. Nevertheless, the baller — who’s turning 43 on Friday — managed to make history as the oldest player ever to appear in a Finals game.

While that appearance clearly meant something to the Heat Nation citizenry, the players undoubtedly felt something, too. That includes Caleb Martin, who didn’t mince words when describing Haslem’s importance to him personally during Thursday’s media availability.

“He has meant everything to me,” Martin said of the 20-year veteran.

Heat’s Caleb Martin Elaborates on What Udonis Haslem Means to Him

There is, of course, some crossover to be found with Martin and Haslem, as both players entered the Association undrafted and largely unheralded. So, as he has worked to make himself as one of the game’s up-and-coming frontcourt players, the former has looked at the latter as an example; something to aspire to.

Not only that — Haslem has been there to help him along in his journey.

“He is on the Mount Rushmore of undrafted guys who have made a living in this league,” Martin said.

After four years at Florida, Haslem spent his first season as a baller-for-hire in the French LNB Pro A. The following year (2003-04), he caught on with the Heat, with whom he went on to appear in 879 games while averaging 7.5 points and 6.6 rebounds nightly.

He also captured three NBA championship rings and earned more than $65 million.

“I’m so fortunate to have someone like him, to be under his wing and take advice from him and just learn from him. It’s been an honor, for sure, to be around him and to be able to learn from him. I’ve had a big-time luxury of having him on the team and being a part of this run.”

Haslem Intends to Stick Around as a Hands-On Minority Owner

While the Heat’s championship fate has yet to be decided, Haslem’s ultimate destination is already known. Title or no, the Miami lifer will be hanging up the high-tops once his team’s current run ends.

That’s not to say, though, that he’s parting ways with the franchise. Earlier this season, Haslem revealed that he’d like to remain in the mix as a hands-on member of the Heat’s ownership group.

Via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson:

My commitment, even though I’ll be retired, is to be here just as much as the players and the staff and be committed to the process of the future and winning… I look to take a path of ownership, but to be a working owner, not a guy who crosses his legs and sits on the sideline.

I want to be a guy that connects the dots between the locker room and front office, connects the dots between the front office and the owners. Sometimes you can miss things in those areas.

Max Strus and Gabe Vincent have been two of the more unheralded contributors for the Miami Heat during the team’s current playoff run.

Strus averaged 14.7 points a game in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks and 9.4 points a game in the Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics (all stats via ESPN). Vincent has been arguably better, netting 10.3 points and dishing out 4.7 assists a game in the semis while also averaging 15.8 points a game against the Celtics.

Both Strus and Vincent are set to be unrestricted free agents once the team’s season officially concludes and according to Darren Rovell of The Action Network, that “means insane bumps in salary are coming.”

Rovell: NBA Exec Believes Strus & Vincent Set to Get Paid

Strus, 27, and Vincent, 26, are both undrafted players who have managed to make names for themselves in the postseason. According to Rovell, at least one NBA executive thinks both players are about to cash in due to their respective performances in clutch games.

“I could see [Vincent and Strus] signing deals in the $15 million a year range,” the front office exec said, adding: “I’ve invested in players who had breakouts like these guys did and they turned out to be duds because they were just good in the system they were in. If it doesn’t work out, you might never really know why. The teams that are going to be paying $12 to $15 million for Gabe Vincent and Max Strus are low- to mid-tier teams and they are going to be asked to do more on a consistent basis.”

Strus currently makes $1.7 million a year, as does Vincent, so a $14 million increase per season isn’t too shabby.

The executive was also asked who he thought the better player was between Strus and Vincent and he chose the latter. “Strus sets up on the floor for his shot,” he exec told Rovell. “There’s nothing wrong with that. But Vincent is more of a creator.”

Strus Has Been Inconsistent in Finals vs Nuggets

Through three games in the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets, Strus has run hot and cold, while Vincent has been a more consistent player.

Strus went 0-for-10 in Miami’s Game 1 loss, failing to score and finishing the five rebounds and three assists. He played far better in the Heat’s Game 2 win, shooting 40% from beyond the arc and finishing with 10 points. He cooled off again in Miami’s Game 3 loss, scoring three points while going 1-for-7 from downtown.

Vincent is averaging 16.3 points and 2.7 assists in three games against Denver. He has scored in double figures twice, although he had a forgettable Game 3, in which he finished with seven points after going 2-for-10 from the floor and 1-of-7 from 3-point range.

Vincent, who stepped up his game enough last season to replace veteran Kyle Lowry at point guard and move into the starting lineup, will likely end up signing for more than Strus, who has the ability to start but may be better as a role player coming off the bench.

Regardless, both have been instrumental for Miami in its Cinderella run to the Finals, and both are sure to be rewarded for it.