The Heat already have the star that changes everything. What they still need is the kind of shooter who can make the whole thing click.
That’s the lesson Miami can take from 2012, when the franchise landed a bargain elite shooter and turned a championship-level roster into something even more dangerous. Now, with the first version of the Giannis Antetokounpo era taking shape, the Heat are hoping to find their own Ray Allen-type addition - the veteran marksman who can help set the table for a successful first season.
The problem is that this isn’t a simple shopping trip. There isn’t an obvious target sitting on the open market right now, which is why Miami is left waiting and watching for a possible buyout-market swing.
That’s where the speculation starts. Zach LaVine and Klay Thompson are two names Heat fans, and even some people in the media, have started to circle as possible buyout candidates.
Neither player is available at the moment, but that could change before the regular season begins. If it does, Miami’s outlook could shift fast.
A late-summer addition of that caliber would matter because the Heat already have the bones of a strong roster. Bam Adebayo, Giannis, Andrew Wiggins, Pelle Larsson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Davion Mitchell, and Bobby Portis give Miami a real starting point. But as it stands, the group still looks like it needs another piece or two before anyone can call it a true championship contender.
That’s why the shooting conversation keeps coming back to the front of the line. The Heat don’t need another centerpiece - they already got that with Giannis. What they do need is the kind of fourth or fifth option who keeps the floor spaced and forces defenses to pay for collapsing on the stars.
Thompson fits that idea. So does LaVine. And if Miami can find someone in that mold, the payoff could be huge.
It may sound dramatic, but there’s a real case that the success of year one in the Giannis era will come down to how well the Heat finish the roster. The team has already taken a solid first step by adding Hardaway Jr. Still, another elite veteran shooter would be the kind of move that raises the ceiling in a big way.
Whether LeBron James comes or not, the message stays the same: Miami needs shooting. And if the Heat can land one more proven perimeter threat, the entire picture could look a lot different.
In Other News...
Bucks Just Revealed What Finally Pushed The Giannis Trade Through
The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade was always going to come down to more than star power, and Bucks general manager Jon Horst made clear that Miamis package had enough depth to move the needle. Along with the headline names and draft assets, Milwaukee saw a group that fit what it wanted back in a deal of that size, and Horst singled out Kasparas Jakucionis as one of the players who helped make the return more appealing.
Horsts praise for Jakucionis centered on the kind of traits front offices love to bet on in a young guard: competitiveness, work ethic and real point guard instincts. For Miami, that makes the rookies inclusion an especially notable part of the transaction, even if the full shape of the deal is still being measured against what the Heat gave up to land a franchise player of Antetokounmpos caliber. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Still Havent Solved The Problem Fans Keep Watching
Nikola Jovic is heading into his fifth season with the Heat sounding a little more settled than he did a year ago, when his name surfaced in offseason trade chatter and his place on the roster felt far less certain. He said he is happy to still be in Miami, and after a summer spent with the Serbian national team, he appears to be trying to rebuild the confidence that wavered last season.
For the Heat, that matters because Jovic remains one of the younger pieces they need to keep developing while the front office keeps sorting through bigger roster questions. Andrew Wiggins new deal, the ongoing debate over how to use cap space, and the search for more reliable shooting all point to a team still trying to find the right mix, even as players like Trevor Keels are taking advantage of Summer League minutes and trying to prove they belong. [Read more 🡒]
Davion Mitchell Is Already Feeling The Pressure Of Miamis New Era
Davion Mitchells first summer in Miami has already come with a different kind of spotlight. With the Heats roster reshaped by trades and free agency, the guard is being talked about as the presumptive opening-night lead guard, which is a lot to put on a player still settling into his new surroundings. Mitchell has sounded eager for the challenge, and his offseason work has reflected that sense of urgency as he tries to make himself fit the role Miami suddenly needs him to fill.
There is also a clear effort to level up physically. Mitchell said he has dropped significant weight and is moving better, with his athleticism showing up more in workouts as he works toward a bigger responsibility. The next step is an important one, too, as he looks to sharpen that game alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo later this summer, a move that says plenty about how seriously he is approaching this new chapter. [Read more 🡒]