Tracy McGrady isn’t buying the idea that Miami is finished after landing Giannis Antetokounmpo.
On the Sept. 23 episode of “Cousins,” McGrady joined Vince Carter and guest Lou Williams for an Eastern Conference discussion, and when Williams brought up the Heat’s acquisition of Antetokounmpo, McGrady made his view clear.
“I don’t think they’re done,” McGrady said.
That was McGrady’s read on Miami’s direction, not a report that another deal was already in motion. He didn’t point to a specific target or hint at a player the Heat are chasing. But the thought is worth exploring because Miami still has a little roster flexibility left, and not just for the days before the season starts.
The Heat currently have 14 players on standard contracts, which leaves them one shy of the regular-season limit. They also have three two-way players and two players on Exhibit 10 contracts.
That matters in the wake of Miami’s claim of Bez Mbeng on an Exhibit 10 deal. That kind of move does not automatically mean the team has used up its last standard-contract spot. It simply gives the Heat another body to evaluate before they decide how they want the regular-season roster to look.
There’s value in that opening. It gives Miami room to add depth. It does not, by itself, mean another blockbuster is waiting around the corner.
The Heat already spent heavily to make their biggest splash. In the team’s official trade announcement, Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis were listed among the outgoing players, along with three first-round picks, a first-round swap and a second-round pick. Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis arrived in Miami.
That kind of haul can’t be duplicated. Those players and picks are gone, which means any future swing has to be built from what the Heat still have and judged against the rotation pieces they’d be giving up.
And before Miami even gets to that point, there’s the more basic basketball question: what does the team actually need most? A second creator could ease the pressure of running the offense. A wing who can defend and knock down open shots could give Erik Spoelstra more options when games tighten up late.
Those are different kinds of help, and one move won’t necessarily solve both problems. Miami has already made an investment in shooting.
In 2025-26, Klay Thompson made 202 threes at 38.3 percent. The next question is how all of those pieces fit together.
Spacing still depends on the lineup, and any extra ball handler has to bring enough value away from the ball to make sense next to Antetokounmpo. Camp and preseason will help Miami sort through which tradeoff it can live with.
The team has already had a player-run offseason gathering, which helps with comfort and chemistry. But that’s not the same as seeing those combinations tested against outside competition.
McGrady’s comment also leaves open a longer view for Miami.
In a Sept. 23 report, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson wrote that the Heat could have access to a projected $15.8 million nontaxpayer midlevel exception in 2027. Jackson also reported that Davion Mitchell is entering the final season of his contract and that Miami could use his Bird rights to bring him back without touching that exception.
That gives the Heat choices, not unlimited spending power. Jackson noted that keeping Mitchell and using the full exception could push Miami above the luxury tax threshold.
And that exception is not the same thing as cap space. It is a tool, not cash sitting around for this fall.
So for Miami, the next season can serve two purposes at once: compete with the roster already in place and figure out which supporting roles need more help. Sometimes the smartest move is keeping the right player rather than adding another new name.
McGrady’s line leaves the door open for all of it. The Heat still have room to adjust, but the next meaningful move will come down to need, availability and price.
In Other News...
Heat May Have A Late Point Guard Opportunity Worth Watching
Ryan Nembhards name has surfaced at an interesting time for Miami, with the guard now expected to be waived after being part of a three-player deal involving Atlanta and Charlotte. For the Heat, it creates a possible late backcourt opening to monitor as they continue weighing ways to add depth before camp, whether that means bringing in another body on a training camp look or moving straight toward a standard deal.
Nembhards appeal is easy to understand for a team that values organization and decision-making in the backcourt. He spent four seasons in college and then got his first NBA taste with Dallas, where he earned a standard contract and flashed some playmaking ability. If he does hit the open market, Miami will have to decide whether his upside is enough to make him part of the mix, and whether the fit is right before other teams get involved. [Read more 🡒]
Andrew Wiggins Could Be Exactly What The Heat Need Again
Andrew Wiggins is stepping into Miami with a familiar kind of pressure, the sort that comes with being asked to fit cleanly beside established stars and still make a real mark on both ends. In this case, the Heat are counting on him to slide into a significant third-option role next to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, a setup that could give Miami another long, versatile wing presence if everything clicks the way it did at times in Golden State.
Wiggins has already shown he can matter on a contender, especially during the Warriors 2022 championship run, when his two-way value helped shape a title teams identity. The question for Miami is whether that version of him shows up often enough to matter over the course of the season, because the Heat do not need a flash of impact so much as dependable scoring, steady defense, and the kind of efficiency that makes the rest of the roster easier to organize. [Read more 🡒]
Heat May Have Given Up More In The Giannis Deal Than Expected
The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade gave Miami the immediate jolt it was looking for, but the move also sent Kasparas Jakucionis to Milwaukee, and that part of the deal is already drawing attention. The 20-year-old guard spent his rookie season in Miami showing a blend of efficient shot-making and defensive activity that made him look like more than a throw-in, even if his role was still limited.
Now in Milwaukee, Jakucionis appears headed for a bigger opportunity, which is exactly what can make the long view of a blockbuster trade tricky. His college and NBA tape point to a guard who can handle the ball, make plays for others and stay engaged defensively, so the Heat may eventually be judged not just on landing Giannis, but on how much young upside they were willing to include to get him. [Read more 🡒]