The Miami Heat made one of the loudest moves of the offseason by landing former Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, and that alone pushed them into the conversation for the best free agency haul in the league.
According to The Athletic, Miami finished with the second-best offseason, trailing only the Philadelphia 76ers. The praise centered on the Heat’s ability to chase stars and quickly reshape the roster around Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
As The Athletic put it: “Pat Riley never flinches. He hunts stars...
Miami bagged the Greek Freak to reset the Heat as legit contenders... Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo will be a terror defensively...
Spo, though, always figures out the best way to use whatever he's got every season. He'll do so again.”
Miami had been aiming even higher. The Heat hoped to land LeBron James after he decided to leave the Los Angeles Lakers last month, and there were plenty of reports pointing to Miami as a favorite. Instead, James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.
That decision changed the look of the East in a major way. A James pairing with Adebayo and Antetokounmpo would have been a monster combination, but Philadelphia ended up with James, giving the 76ers one of the best starting lineups in NBA history after the addition.
Their projected five is:
Center Joel Embiid
Forward LeBron James
Forward Jaylen Brown
Guard Tyrese Maxey
Guard VJ Edgecombe
Now the Heat are still searching for another star to put next to Antetokounmpo and Adebayo. The names on the list include DeMar DeRozan, Klay Thompson and Bradley Beal.
Miami has had interest in those players before, but each one is now viewed as being past his prime. DeRozan looks like the strongest option of the group after averaging 18 points last season with the Sacramento Kings.
There is also the question of whether the Heat could move young forward Nikola Jovic.
In Other News...
Heat Are Learning Tyler Herro Left A Bigger Void Than Expected
Tyler Herros departure has left Miami with a sharper appreciation for everything he was giving them on offense. Before the trade that sent him out to bring in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Herro had become more than a scorer, giving the Heat a mix of shot-making, playmaking and efficient production that helped steady the attack in different ways.
Now the challenge is finding a replacement that looks anything like that package, and that is not a simple ask. Miami has been linked to veteran options such as DeMar DeRozan and Klay Thompson as it searches for help, but both come with different skill sets and timelines than the player the Heat just moved. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Linked To Proven Scorer As Shooting Need Comes Into Focus
Miamis need for shooting has been obvious for a while, and Bradley Beal has quickly emerged as a name worth watching as the offseason opens up. The veteran guard just finished a season derailed by a hip injury that required surgery, limiting him to only six games, but his track record as a proven scorer still makes him an intriguing fit for a team looking to add offense without overhauling its core.
Beal is now on the market after opting out of his deal with the Clippers, and the free-agent path gives teams a chance to explore what a fresh start might look like. For the Heat, the appeal is easy to understand: they need more shot-making, and Beals resume checks that box. What matters next is whether the interest turns into something more concrete as Miami keeps weighing its options. [Read more 🡒]