The Miami Heat’s 0-4 start has already pushed the conversation into uncomfortable territory, and one former All-Star thinks the answer is a familiar one: Kyrie Irving.
On a recent episode of Run It Back on FanDuel TV, DeMarcus Cousins pointed to Miami’s offensive issues and said the team needs another playmaking guard to steady things. He even floated Irving as the kind of addition that could make sense for the Heat.
"I think if they can figure out a way to get another playmaking guard, a Kyrie [Irving]," Cousins said. "Obviously, Kyrie can fit on a lot of teams but I think a Kyrie in this situation could help the Miami Heat a lot.
It's more so just figuring out how everybody fits on the floor at once defensively. I think there'll be fun, you know...
I think they had a versatility to, to figure that part out but that offensive part, that's the problem with this Miami Heat team right now."
Miami entered the season with high expectations after adding Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the new-look group has yet to find its rhythm. The roster has been reshaped with a wave of veteran additions, and the early results have fueled concern about how quickly the pieces will come together.
Irving, 34, has been part of trade chatter all offseason, and Miami remains a possible landing spot even after its own busy summer. A deal would most likely send Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Jovic out as the central pieces, with Davion Mitchell and Bobby Portis also mentioned as possible parts of a package.
Irving is also back on the floor after missing the entire 2025-26 season with a torn ACL, returning for the first time since March 2025. He’s already made an impact, helping the Mavericks beat Miami on Monday night. In three games, he’s averaging 19 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 51.2 percent from the field and 32 percent from three.
Dallas, meanwhile, is in a very different place than it was a year ago. The Mavericks were one of the league’s worst teams in their first full season after trading Luka Doncic, but Cooper Flagg’s Rookie of the Year season has accelerated the rebuild. The team also traded Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards at the deadline, waived Klay Thompson before he joined Miami and still has Irving on the roster.
Even with Irving playing well, the fit with a younger roster doesn’t make perfect sense. And for Miami, the urgency is obvious. Davion Mitchell has given the Heat strong play at starting point guard through the first week of the season, but if a chance opens to chase a talent like Irving, Pat Riley and the front office may not be able to ignore it.
In Other News...
Tyler Herro Just Reopened A Heat Debate Fans Wanted Gone
Tyler Herros strong start in Milwaukee has done more than give his new team its first win of the season. It has also nudged an old Heat conversation back into view, especially as Miami stumbled to 0-4 out of the gate. Herro delivered a near triple-double in the Bucks breakthrough, and the timing has only sharpened the contrast for a fan base still sorting through what his departure meant.
Austin Herro added another layer by posting a cryptic message on social media that appeared aimed at Heat fans, which was enough to stir the pot on a sore subject. There has also been talk this offseason of a physical altercation between Tyler Herro and former teammate Bam Adebayo, while Adebayo has drawn criticism for his slow start. For Miami, it is one more reminder that the aftermath of the Herro chapter is still very much alive. [Read more 🡒]
Pelle Larsson May Have Given The Heat A Needed Bench Answer
Pelle Larssons latest outing gave Miami something it has been searching for off the bench: a reliable secondary creator who can keep the offense moving when the game starts to get sticky. In a recent Heat win, Larsson supplied 17 points, six rebounds and eight assists, and his ability to make plays without overcomplicating possessions helped the team find a better rhythm on offense.
Erik Spoelstra pointed to Larssons improved decision-making and versatility as a big reason Miami was able to lean more into pick-and-roll action and generate cleaner looks. For a team that just posted its highest scoring total of the season, that kind of bench production matters, and Larssons role now feels like one of the more interesting developments to watch as the Heat try to keep that offensive flow going. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Finally Showed A Look Miami Fans Have Been Waiting For
After a rough stretch, the Heat got a much-needed reset in Atlanta with a 129-117 win that stopped the skid and gave Miami something it had been missing for much of the early season: a cleaner, more connected offensive look. The ball moved better, the floor opened up more naturally, and the pick-and-roll finally looked like a reliable source of pressure rather than a possession-killer.
Giannis Antetokounmpo powered the effort with 24 points and 18 rebounds, while Bam Adebayo made his own mark by setting the franchises all-time career rebounding record. For a team that has spent so much time searching for rhythm, the bigger question now is whether this was a one-night fix or the start of something more sustainable as the schedule turns. [Read more 🡒]