After a promising 14-7 start to the season - during what was arguably the toughest stretch of their schedule - the Miami Heat have hit a serious skid. They've dropped eight of their last nine, and while there have been some bright spots from younger players like Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis (especially in that game against the Celtics), and Jaime Jaquez Jr., the overall picture is becoming harder to ignore.
At 15-15, the Heat are sitting squarely in the middle of the pack - again. And as we cross the 30-game mark, this is typically when teams begin to show who they really are.
For Miami, that’s looking like a fourth consecutive trip to the play-in tournament. That’s not exactly the standard this franchise has set for itself.
With the trade deadline creeping closer, the Heat have to make a choice - and it might be time to consider a path they’ve rarely walked: becoming sellers.
Time to Consider Selling Veterans - Including Norman Powell
Around the league, the spotlight remains on Giannis Antetokounmpo and his future in Milwaukee. But despite the speculation, there’s no indication the Bucks are making him available, and Giannis hasn’t shown any signs of pushing for a move - at least not publicly. So while the fantasy of a blockbuster trade is always tempting, the reality is that Miami can’t afford to sit around waiting for a star who might never hit the market.
And if the Heat don’t land a player of that caliber? Recent history says they’ll stay right where they are - stuck in the middle.
Not bad enough to bottom out, not good enough to contend. That’s the NBA’s no-man’s-land.
That’s why it might be time to pivot. Norman Powell has been a bright spot this season, giving Miami an efficient scoring punch and veteran presence.
But he’s also at the tail end of his prime, and his value might never be higher. If the right offer comes along, Miami should seriously consider moving him.
Asset Cupboard Is Bare - Time to Restock
The Heat’s asset situation is, to put it bluntly, thin. Kel’el Ware has emerged as a legitimate building block and arguably their most valuable young piece.
But beyond that? Miami has just two tradable first-round picks between now and 2032.
Their 2027 first is already gone thanks to the Terry Rozier trade, and they’re also without their next seven second-rounders.
That’s a tough spot to be in for a team that hasn’t made a deep playoff run in years.
It’s not just Powell who could draw interest. Tyler Herro, who’s about to miss his 25th game of the season, might’ve been a sell-high candidate earlier in the year.
He’ll be an expiring contract after the 2025-26 season. Andrew Wiggins - another expiring in the same window - reportedly drew interest from contenders like the Lakers and Bucks last summer.
Then there’s Simone Fontecchio, a solid rotation piece on a manageable $8.3 million expiring deal, and Davion Mitchell, who’ll be an expiring at $12.4 million in 2026-27.
If Miami wants to rearm for the future, these are the conversations they need to be having. They’ve already had to navigate life after Jimmy Butler, and without a true No. 1 option, the offense has struggled to find consistency.
All-In or All-Out - No More Middle Ground
The Heat are at a crossroads. Either they go all-in for a superstar - if one becomes available - or they start selling off veterans and building for the future. What they can’t afford to do is keep treading water.
Every player has a price. And if the Heat can use that to acquire draft capital, young talent, or both, they need to be ready to act.
Because right now, in an Eastern Conference that’s as weak as it’s been in years, Miami is still sitting in the middle of the pack. That’s not a place you want to be - not for a franchise that prides itself on culture, competitiveness, and chasing championships.
The worst place to be in the NBA isn’t at the bottom. It’s being stuck with no clear direction. And unless the Heat make a move soon - one way or the other - that’s exactly where they’ll stay.