The Miami Heat have opened preseason looking sharp, and there’s already a clear feeling around the roster: this group has teeth. Giannis Antetokounmpo has fit in well with his new team, and Miami’s defense has the kind of base that can carry a lot. Still, Pat Riley could have one more move to make if the right name shakes loose.
That’s where Zach LaVine comes in.
CBS Sports recently ranked the top 50 players most likely to be traded this season, and LaVine landed sixth. In that same discussion, Miami was named as a possible landing spot if he becomes available through a buyout. For a Heat team still looking to sharpen its offensive edge, that idea makes a lot of sense.
The case for LaVine starts with the obvious: Miami already has a dangerous defensive spine. Giannis, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and Davion Mitchell give Erik Spoelstra a versatile group that can cover a lot of ground and switch things up possession to possession. That kind of personnel matters, especially when the games tighten up and the playoff adjustments start coming fast.
The question has always been what happens on the other end when things bog down.
Giannis should get his scoring, and Bam is expected to have a strong offensive season alongside him. The Heat also have shooting in Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. But the roster still looks short on one thing: another player who can create his own shot when everything gets sticky.
LaVine checks that box.
He’s more than a catch-and-shoot option. He can put the ball on the floor, get to the rim, hit tough jumpers, and give a team a real answer when the offense stalls late.
That kind of scoring punch matters when defenses load up on Giannis and the outside shots aren’t falling. In those moments, Miami needs somebody who can manufacture points without waiting for the perfect setup.
The appeal gets stronger because LaVine wouldn’t need to be the Heat’s top offensive engine. That could actually help him. He has spent much of his career carrying a heavy scoring load, but in Miami he could lean into playing off Giannis and taking advantage of the opportunities that come with that role.
He’s a proven three-point shooter, but he’s not just a spacer. If defenders run him off the line, he can attack the closeout, get to the basket, pull up from midrange, or create something when a possession breaks down. The fit with Bam in pick-and-roll actions is easy to picture, especially with Giannis moving around and forcing the defense to stay honest.
Of course, the defensive side of LaVine’s game will come up immediately, and that concern is fair. Miami would have to trust the rest of the roster to absorb that load, and on paper, they can.
Giannis and Bam protect the paint, Wiggins handles wings, and Mitchell brings pressure to opposing guards. Add Spoelstra’s track record of making different lineups work on that end, and the framework is there.
The harder part is the business side.
LaVine is making nearly $49 million this season, which is a massive number for any team to absorb. Miami has already committed heavily to this roster, and paying that price by moving key rotation players or future assets would be a tough sell. The Heat have already made their blockbuster move, and giving up depth just to force another major deal into place would not be the cleanest path.
A buyout would be the more attractive route, but that comes with its own uncertainty. Sacramento might not buy him out, and even if it did, Miami would still have to work through the salary-cap rules to see whether a signing would be possible.
If the Heat could somehow land LaVine without breaking up the core, the upside is obvious. A starting group of Mitchell, Wiggins, Giannis, Bam, and LaVine would give Miami a lot of different ways to win a game. It would bring more scoring, keep the defensive versatility intact, and give the Heat another player they can trust when a close playoff game comes down to a few possessions.
In Other News...
Heat Face A Costly Frontcourt Decision Before Opening Night
Nick Richards is giving the Heat something to think about as opening night approaches, and not just because he arrived on a non-guaranteed deal. His contract only becomes guaranteed if he makes the roster for the opener, which means Miami has to decide quickly whether the big man fits into its plans as the team sorts through the edges of the frontcourt.
The early signs point toward Richards having a real chance to stick, largely because the Heat could use the help up front and he has flashed rebounding ability in limited preseason minutes. For a team that likes to keep roster flexibility, this is the kind of decision that can quietly shape the start of the season, even if it doesn't carry the same spotlight as the bigger names. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Riley Still Faces One Big Heat Decision In The Backcourt
After a busy offseason that brought Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami and added more veteran help around him, the Heat still have one obvious area of curiosity in the backcourt. The roster looks deeper and far more ambitious than it did a few months ago, but the front office has not stopped scanning the market for another high-end guard who could change the ceiling of the team.
Kyrie Irving has become the name to watch ahead of the February trade deadline, with reports tying Miami to a possible deal for the Dallas Mavericks guard. Dallas is in the middle of a rebuild after moving Luka Doncic, and Irvings place there has become part of the larger picture, which is why this is the kind of situation Pat Riley tends to monitor closely. For the Heat, the question is whether the right opportunity is actually there, or whether the backcourt puzzle remains unsettled for now. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Fans Wont Like How Giannis And Bam Are Being Viewed
Bleacher Reports latest ranking of the NBAs top 30 defenders added another layer to the ongoing conversation around elite frontcourt defense, and it is the kind of list Heat fans are likely to have opinions on. Giannis Antetokounmpo landed at No. 10, with Bam Adebayo at No. 25, even as both players have built reputations on the defensive end for different reasons. Antetokounmpo is still seen as a force around the rim, while Adebayos value comes from the range of matchups he can handle across multiple positions.
For Miami, the interesting part is not just where Adebayo was placed, but how the broader perception of these defenders stacks up against what the Heat have seen from their own side of the matchup. The rankings have already sparked debate because Antetokounmpo and Adebayo are widely viewed as one of the leagues stronger defensive frontcourt pairings, and yet the list leaves room for disagreement about how that talent is being weighed. [Read more 🡒]