The Miami Heat’s blockbuster move for Giannis Antetokounmpo changed the shape of the roster in a hurry, but it also brought a new problem into focus: depth. Miami gave up four players in the deal and then watched All-Star guard Norman Powell leave for the Chicago Bulls in free agency, leaving the team with plenty of veteran patches and not a lot of long-term certainty.
That’s why Trey Murphy III is a name worth watching.
Murphy, 26, has started to pop up in trade chatter, and if the New Orleans Pelicans do make him available, Miami would make sense as a landing spot. He’s one of the more intriguing players who could come up around February’s trade deadline, mainly because his stock has climbed fast. The 2021 first-round pick has turned into a legitimate star, putting together back-to-back breakout seasons with career-best numbers in points, rebounds and assists while handling a bigger role on one of the Western Conference’s worst teams.
For the Heat, the appeal is obvious. Andrew Wiggins recently opted into the final year of his contract and signed a two-year, $34 million extension with Miami, which essentially turns into a three-year, $64 million deal. That doesn’t exactly scream flexibility, but it does give the Heat a path to chase a younger forward if they want to reshape the roster again.
Murphy has already shown he can put the ball in the basket at a strong clip. The bigger question is what New Orleans would demand to move him. Reports throughout the offseason have suggested the Pelicans would want multiple first-round picks, and that price tag would not be a surprise given that Murphy is under contract through 2028-29.
If Miami were to go after him, the framework would likely involve Wiggins and at least one or two picks going out the door. It’s a steep cost, but the Heat just spent the offseason adding veterans, so flipping some of that into a younger core piece would fit another direction if they choose to take it.
And if the Pelicans eventually decide to sell, Murphy would not be the only name on the table. Zion Williamson, the former No. 1 overall pick, has already been floated in trade discussions over the past few seasons, too.
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Norman Powell Sounds Convinced Miami Can Be An East Problem
Norman Powell spent last season with the Heat, so his read on what Miami can become carries a little extra weight. The veteran shooting guard has been upbeat about the franchises outlook since the addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and he pointed to the kind of foundation the Heat always like to build around, with Bam Adebayo, Klay Thompson, depth and Erik Spoelstra all part of the pitch.
For Miami, the optimism is less about one splashy move than how the pieces might fit once the season starts. Powells broader confidence in the roster fits the Heats long-running identity as a team that believes it can outwork, outcoach and outlast opponents in the East, and he seems convinced this version has the ingredients to do it. The only real question now is how high that belief can carry them once the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Final Roster Spot Comes Down To One Risky Backcourt Bet
With one roster spot still open, the Heat are kicking around the kind of move that fits the organizations usual appetite for upside over comfort. Devin Carter, recently waived by the Hawks, has surfaced as a potential low-risk, high-reward addition for Miami as it continues looking for backcourt help and another developmental piece to keep in the pipeline.
Carter brings the appeal of a former lottery pick who has flashed enough promise to stay on the radar, even if his first two NBA seasons were defined as much by inconsistency and availability issues as by progress. For Miami, the question is whether that profile is worth betting on for a final spot, especially if the front office believes there is still something to unlock behind the rough edges. [Read more 🡒]
Davion Mitchell Faces Real Heat Pressure After This Offseason Praise
Norman Powells offseason live stream offered a tidy reminder of why Davion Mitchell has become such an intriguing piece for Miami. Mitchell arrived off a productive season as a starting point guard, and the praise around his work ethic only adds to the sense that he has earned real respect in a locker room that now looks different after the Heats latest star additions. For a player who has already shown he can handle a bigger role, the upcoming season carries more weight than a typical follow-up year.
Mitchell is also heading into a pivotal contract season, which changes the temperature around everything he does on the floor. With his deal expiring, every stretch of strong play could shape how Miami views him in the short term and whether his name comes up in trade conversations down the line. The Heat have plenty of moving parts already, and Mitchells ability to fit, produce and keep building on last season may end up being one of the quieter but most important storylines to watch. [Read more 🡒]