The Miami Heat already made their franchise-shifting move by landing Giannis Antetokounmpo, but that doesn’t mean Pat Riley is done looking for more. If the season doesn’t go the way Miami expects, the trade deadline could give the Heat another chance to swing big - or at least patch up a roster that still has some questions on the depth front.
That concern is real after an offseason that brought Antetokounmpo to Miami but also cost the Heat four players in the deal. On top of that, All-Star guard Norman Powell left for the Chicago Bulls in free agency. The Heat filled some of those gaps with a batch of veteran stopgaps, but the sense around the team is clear: if Miami needs help later, the deadline is supposed to be rich with options.
Two names stand out as possible targets.
Aaron Gordon of the Denver Nuggets is one. Gordon has missed most of each of the past two seasons, but when he’s been on the floor in Denver, he’s been productive.
Since arriving in a 2021 deal, he’s carved out a reputation as one of the league’s quiet stars and helped the Nuggets win a title alongside future Hall of Famer Nikola Jokic. Last season, in limited action, Gordon put up 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three-point range.
A move for Gordon might not require a massive haul, especially with his extension now kicking in and Denver appearing to build a new group around Jokic. For Miami, that could mean a strong forward without a crippling price tag.
Then there’s Kevin Durant, and that’s the headline-grabber.
Durant, 37, could reportedly be on the move again if the Houston Rockets are stuck in the middle by the deadline. There was already reported mutual interest between Durant’s camp and Miami last offseason, but Pat Riley was hesitant to give up young pieces like Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic.
Now the equation looks different. Two of those players are gone, and Miami has a new superstar in place.
Durant could be more open to the idea this time around.
His market also may not be as steep as it was a year ago. A deal built around Andrew Wiggins and Jovic would make sense, and it would give Miami a front line featuring Durant, Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. That would lock down the small forward, power forward and center spots, and it’s hard to argue with the idea that such a trio would rank among the NBA’s strongest Big Three.
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Norman Powells Heat Exit Says Plenty About Miamis New Look
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For the Heat, his exit is another reminder of how fast a contenders plans can change once a major move reshapes the books and the depth chart. Powell has since landed with the Bulls on a two-year deal, but his comments still say plenty about Miamis new look and the realities that come with trying to keep a team competitive after a bold pivot. [Read more 🡒]
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Miamis preference appears to be a veteran addition down the road rather than taking a swing on a reclamation project like Carter, which is part of what makes the comparison linger. The Celtics also signed Mike Conley Jr. earlier in the offseason after the Heat were linked to him, adding another layer to a quiet pattern that has left Miami supporters wondering which targets were real possibilities and which ones simply got away. [Read more 🡒]