The Miami Heat have never been shy about chasing stars. From the Big Three era to their more recent moves, Miami’s front office has consistently shown a willingness to swing big. In recent seasons, they’ve added solid contributors like Andrew Wiggins and Norman Powell, but Jimmy Butler remains the face of the franchise-and the centerpiece of their current core.
Now, the Heat may be eyeing their next big move, and the name floating around the league right now is Ja Morant. The Memphis Grizzlies guard has long been one of the most electric players in the game, and while there’s no official word from Miami, the whispers are growing louder. According to NBA insider Sam Amick, the Heat have been keeping their trade plans “pretty close to the vest,” but that hasn’t stopped speculation from ramping up.
“If you want to reach and get back in the star player business, you can probably find a way to do that with Ja,” Amick said during an appearance on The Ryen Russillo Show. It’s a tantalizing thought. Morant’s explosiveness, playmaking, and swagger would fit right in with Miami’s culture-a franchise that thrives on edge, intensity, and talent.
But Morant might not be the only superstar Miami has its eyes on.
If the Giannis Antetokounmpo situation in Milwaukee continues to unravel, the Heat could be a serious player in that sweepstakes too. Amick noted that if there’s any indication Giannis might decline his extension, Miami is “absolutely a place that Giannis is believed to be open to.”
That’s a major development. Giannis has repeatedly said he wants to stay in Milwaukee, but the noise around his future hasn’t quieted.
And with the Bucks sitting at 17-23 and outside the current Eastern Conference playoff picture-11th place, two games behind the Bulls-the pressure is mounting. This isn’t where Milwaukee expected to be, especially after parting ways with Damian Lillard.
The team’s struggles could open the door for a seismic shift.
Earlier buzz had the New York Knicks as the frontrunners in any potential Giannis sweepstakes. But if things keep trending downward in Milwaukee, don’t be surprised if the Heat emerge as a major contender. Miami has the allure, the culture, and the front office willing to go all-in when the moment’s right.
And that moment could be coming soon.
“It’s only a matter of time until they take a big swing,” Amick said of the Heat. “Pat’s not getting any younger, and Erik is not going to do this forever. I don’t know what that looks like, but you feel like one of these days we’re going to look up and they’ve done something big.”
That’s the thing with Miami: they don’t just wait for opportunities-they create them. Whether it’s Ja Morant, Giannis, or another star not yet on the radar, the Heat are clearly lurking.
The question isn’t if they’ll make a move. It’s when, and just how big it’ll be.