The Miami Heat have set the NBA offseason ablaze by pulling off a blockbuster trade to land Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks. It's a move that sends shockwaves through the league, but it comes at a cost.
The Heat had to part ways with key players like Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kasparas Jakucionis, leaving some noticeable gaps in their roster. However, the Heat are no strangers to savvy moves, and there are still plenty of opportunities to bolster their lineup without breaking the bank.
Enter Max Strus, a name that should sound familiar to Heat fans. According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Cleveland Cavaliers wing is a player to watch on the trade market. Strus, now 30, has a history with Miami, and his journey to this point has been anything but ordinary.
Strus went undrafted in 2019 but caught the eye of the Boston Celtics, playing for them in the Summer League. Unfortunately, he was waived before the season started and picked up by the Chicago Bulls, where an ACL tear limited his appearances to just two games.
Fast forward to November 2020, and Strus found himself with the Heat on a training camp contract, eventually earning a two-way deal. His first season saw him in 39 games, though his shooting was still developing.
The 2021-22 season marked a turning point for Strus. He started 33 games and achieved a career-high 41% from three-point range. But it was the 2023 Play-In tournament where he truly shone, helping Miami secure the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference and setting the stage for a memorable playoff run.
Strus' performance earned him a four-year, $63 million contract with the Cavaliers. In Cleveland, he filled the role of a reliable sharpshooter, but injuries limited him to just 62 games over two seasons. With the Cavaliers potentially looking to shake things up, Strus could be on the move again.
The Heat, having lost Duncan Robinson to the Detroit Pistons in a sign-and-trade during the 2025 offseason, are in need of a dependable perimeter shooter. Despite some inconsistencies and injury concerns, Strus still offers a solid option from beyond the arc. While the financial logistics might be tricky, the prospect of bringing Strus back to Miami is certainly intriguing.
As the Heat navigate this new era with Giannis on board, the potential addition of Strus could be a key piece in their championship puzzle. Keep your eyes peeled, Heat fans-this offseason is just heating up.
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 🡒]