For Miami Heat fans still clinging to the Buddy Hield idea, there’s at least a sliver of life left in it.
The Atlanta Hawks have officially guaranteed Hield’s $9.66 million salary for the 2026-27 season, which would seem to close the door. But according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Atlanta remains "involved in several trade scenarios that could end up utilizing Buddy Hield’s salary for 2026-27."
That keeps the Heat in the conversation, at least in theory. Hield could still land in Miami if he’s moved elsewhere first and eventually bought out, or if a direct trade to the Heat somehow comes together.
If Miami has been eyeing Hield as a possible fit alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, the path is still there - just much narrower than before.
What’s clear is that the Heat do have interest. The cleanest outcome would have been getting Hield at a bargain, but even at his full salary number through a trade, Miami would have to at least weigh the option.
And the fit is easy to understand. Hield has had his share of peaks and valleys, particularly lately, but his biggest calling card has never changed: shooting. He’s a career 40 percent 3-point shooter, and while there are real concerns on the defensive end, he has the kind of perimeter gravity that can change a game.
With Giannis and Bam drawing attention inside and creating space, Miami has reason to believe Hield could rediscover his best form in that environment.
Still, the Hawks’ decision makes the move harder to pull off. If the Heat wants to make something like this happen, the front office is going to need to get inventive.
That’s the bigger theme as free agency nears. If Miami is going to build a workable supporting cast around Bam and Giannis in this first year, it may have to find value in exactly these kinds of moves. The Heat spotted a possible opening with Hield, but the timing and the mechanics haven’t lined up cleanly.
So the dream isn’t gone. It’s just more complicated now.
In Other News...
Former All-Star Just Put The Heat In A Very Awkward Spot
Ben Simmons is back in the conversation again, and this time Miami is part of it. The former No. 1 overall pick has spent the past several years trying to steady a career that once looked headed for stardom, only to be slowed by injuries and shooting issues after his rise with Philadelphia, a move to Brooklyn and a brief stop with the Clippers.
Now, after being waived by the Nets, Simmons is signaling that he wants another shot in the NBA and has been spending time in Miami while weighing his next step. For the Heat, that creates a familiar kind of offseason intrigue: a talented name with real upside, but also a long list of questions that would have to be sorted out before anything concrete could happen. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Free Agency Pressure Just Shifted To One Crucial Backcourt Call
As the NBA free agency window approaches, the Heats offseason to-do list is starting to take a clearer shape: add veteran shooting and another steady playmaker around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. That means Miami is shopping in a backcourt market that has to solve more than one problem at once, with the team looking for players who can stretch the floor, settle possessions and lighten the load on a roster that still needs more reliable perimeter help.
Tim Hardaway Jr. brings the local ties that always make these pursuits feel a little more interesting, while Mike Conley fits the classic need for a composed floor general who can organize an offense when things bog down. Miami also has a longer list of names in the mix, from Landry Shamet and Anfernee Simons to Quentin Grimes and others, but the real challenge is finding the right balance of shooting and control before the market moves past them. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Suddenly Look Poised For Another Major Roster Shakeup
The Heat are heading into free agency with their usual appetite for a roster tweak, and this time the list of possible fits is long enough to suggest more than a routine shopping trip. Miami has already made a couple of small procedural moves by guaranteeing Dru Smiths contract and declining Jahmir Youngs option, while Andrew Wiggins is expected to remain part of the picture as the front office eyes ways to add more offense around its core.
What stands out is the kind of names attached to the search, from shot-makers like Anfernee Simons, Zach LaVine, Cameron Johnson, Tim Hardaway and Khris Middleton to the possibility of a bigger splash if the right door opens. The Heat are said to be aiming for at least two skilled three-point shooters, which makes the next few days about more than just filling the back end of the roster - it could shape how aggressively Miami decides to chase another significant shakeup. [Read more 🡒]