The Miami Heat’s rough opening has already drawn noise from around the league, and now Isaiah Thomas has put a finger on what he thinks is missing. After Miami stumbled to an 0-3 start, the former All-Star took to X this weekend and said the Heat need another dynamic guard in the mix.
That idea comes as criticism around the team keeps building. Kevin Garnett recently blasted Bam Adebayo’s play over the first week of the season, and Thomas is the latest former player to weigh in on Miami’s early struggles. While some fans took Thomas’ comments as him making a pitch for his own comeback, the bigger issue is that the Heat’s backcourt has not done enough beyond Davion Mitchell, who has played well through the first three games.
If Miami decides it needs help on the perimeter, two trade targets stand out from the names listed as potential fits.
Dejounte Murray of the New Orleans Pelicans is one. Once seen as one of the league’s best two-way guards, the 2022 All-Star has had a tougher stretch in recent seasons.
He returned last year after the torn Achilles he suffered in January 2025, and in 14 games he posted 16.7 points, 6.4 assists and 5.4 rebounds. He has started this season looking healthy again, and with the Pelicans willing to move pieces and Murray under contract through 2028, the price could be manageable.
The other option is Kris Dunn of the Los Angeles Clippers. The 32-year-old started 68 games last season and could be available as the Clippers head into a rebuild after moving on from Kawhi Leonard this offseason.
Dunn is in the final season of his deal, doesn’t cost much, and brings exactly the kind of edge Miami could use: tenacious defense and steady playmaking. He’d be a natural complement alongside Davion Mitchell and Pelle Larsson in the backcourt.
In Other News...
Spoelstra Is Already Fed Up With One Heat Problem
The frustration after Miamis loss to Charlotte wasnt hard to miss, because Erik Spoelstra was quick to point out that the Heat are still letting too many stretches slip away. He acknowledged the fourth-quarter push that brought them back into the game, but the bigger concern was what happened before that, when the execution and attention to detail werent where they needed to be.
Spoelstra made it clear the issue is not just about effort in spurts, but about sustaining focus and discipline for a full game. Several first-half possessions ended with shots he didnt want the Heat taking, and for a team trying to build consistency, those choices remain a familiar source of irritation. [Read more 🡒]
Heat's First Week With Giannis Is Raising Real Concerns
The first week of the season has already put the Heat in an uncomfortable early spotlight, and not just because of the 0-3 start. Miamis latest setback came against the Hornets, a game that again exposed how much work still remains as the group tries to settle in together. The issues have been familiar ones so far, with shooting, half-court execution and defensive consistency all showing up as problem areas.
Giannis Antetokounmpo logged 24 minutes in the Charlotte loss and finished with 14 points before fouling out late, another sign that the adjustment period is still very much underway. For a team that expected to lean on its star talent while sorting out the finer points around it, the early returns have been messy. The Heat are still searching for the right rhythm, and right now even the basic parts of their identity look unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Davion Mitchell Just Gave The Heat An Offensive Lifeline
Davion Mitchells fourth-quarter burst gave Miami a much-needed glimpse of what this offense could look like when it has another creator on the floor. In a game where the Heat had been fighting uphill, the three-man group of Mitchell, Pelle Larsson and Bam Adebayo helped fuel a comeback push with strong numbers on both ends, and Mitchell was at the center of it with 15 points and five assists in the period.
For a team that has leaned heavily on Giannis Antetokounmpo through the seasons first three games, that matters. The Heat have been searching for a more dependable source of offense, and Mitchells ability to score and set up teammates in crunch time suggests there may be another path available if he can sustain it. [Read more 🡒]