The Miami Heat aren’t shutting the door on Anthony Davis - they’re just waiting to see if a bigger opportunity walks through it first.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Miami’s front office is keeping its focus locked on Giannis Antetokounmpo. Davis isn’t off the table, but he’s clearly the backup plan, not the co-headliner. If the Giannis sweepstakes fizzle out, then - and only then - could Davis become a serious target.
“Miami, I don’t believe, would really make an all-out effort for Anthony Davis right now until they know for sure that Giannis is not going to be for the taking,” Fischer said.
That’s not just posturing - it’s a calculated approach by a franchise that’s always thinking two or three moves ahead. And while Davis might not be Plan A, he’s still a name worth watching, especially given his recent on-court chemistry with Bam Adebayo.
That Olympic pairing in Paris? It worked.
Davis and Adebayo shared the floor and made it look seamless. That’s no small thing when you’re talking about two bigs who both need room to operate.
The spacing questions - always a concern when you’re pairing frontcourt stars - looked more like a strength than a weakness. That familiarity could make the Heat more comfortable if they shift gears and explore a deal.
Still, Miami’s current situation complicates things. At 14-12 and sitting ninth in the Eastern Conference, the Heat are competitive but not exactly striking fear into the rest of the league. A blockbuster move like this would demand full buy-in from the front office, and right now, the Giannis situation is keeping them in a holding pattern.
And let’s be clear - this isn’t a fire sale for Dallas, either. The Mavericks aren’t shopping Davis.
They’re only picking up the phone if the return is significant. As Fischer put it, it would have to be a deal of “real consequence.”
That makes sense when you look at the numbers. Davis is making $54.1 million this season, with $58.5 million on the books next year, and a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28.
That’s a major financial commitment, but when Davis is healthy, he’s still producing at a high level. The key phrase there, of course, is when healthy - availability has always been the variable in his equation.
So where does that leave Miami? In a familiar spot: lurking, waiting, evaluating.
The Heat have never been afraid to swing big when the moment is right. But for now, they’re holding their cards close, watching the Giannis situation unfold, and keeping Davis in their back pocket - just in case.