The Miami Heat’s shaky start has already pushed one big question to the front of the conversation: do they need to make a trade?
That may sound dramatic this early in the season, especially after Miami landed one of the league’s biggest names in two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. But the way this roster is built has created a sense of urgency. The Heat were expected by many to finish as a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference, yet their uneven opening has made that projection look a lot less certain.
The concern goes beyond a slow start. Miami’s championship window may not be as wide open as it first appeared.
Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo are both elite players, but their fit has been shaky. The roster is also one of the oldest in the league after a wave of veteran additions this offseason, and the Heat gave up Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis to get Antetokounmpo this summer.
All four were 26 or younger, which only sharpens the sense that this is a win-now group. A lot of these pieces could regress soon simply because of age.
If Miami decides it needs another swing before February’s trade deadline, two names stand out.
One is Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks. Shams Charania reported this week that Miami is actively monitoring Irving’s situation in Dallas.
Irving just returned to action after missing the entire 2025-26 season with a torn ACL, and he has looked solid in his first games back. He even helped Dallas beat Miami on Monday night in an upset.
Through four games, Irving is averaging 18 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three.
Davion Mitchell has done strong work as Miami’s starting point guard during the opening week, despite the team’s overall struggles. Still, if Irving becomes available, it would be the kind of upgrade Pat Riley and the front office would have to seriously consider.
The other possible target is Dejounte Murray of the New Orleans Pelicans. Murray was once regarded as one of the league’s best two-way guards, though the last few seasons have not gone as smoothly.
He returned last season after tearing his Achilles in January 2025 and played 14 games, posting 16.7 points, 6.4 assists and 5.4 rebounds. He has started this season looking healthy again.
There is also the matter of New Orleans potentially moving pieces this year, and Murray’s contract runs through 2028. Because of his age and the dip from his peak form, he might not cost as much in a trade as he once would have.
In Other News...
Pelle Larsson Is Becoming A Real Factor In Miamis Turnaround
Pelle Larssons early season start with the Heat was quiet enough that it would have been easy to overlook him, but the last stretch has made it clear he is settling into a much bigger role. Miami has leaned on him off the bench in recent games, and his value goes beyond scoring, with the second-year guard helping as a secondary ball-handler and fitting into the kind of lineups that can swing a game late.
The Heat clearly see him as part of their future, especially after giving him a four-year contract extension last season, and the praise has followed from inside and outside the locker room. Bam Adebayo has already spoken highly of Larsson, and so has Giannis Antetokounmpo, which says plenty about the impression he is making. For a team trying to keep its turnaround moving, Larssons rise has become one of the more encouraging developments to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Suddenly Face A Real Kyrie Irving Dilemma
Kyrie Irvings name is already back in the middle of the NBA rumor cycle, and this time the chatter goes beyond the usual offseason noise. Sports Illustrateds Chris Mannix floated the idea that Irving could emerge as one of the leagues more sought-after trade targets during the season, with the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons mentioned as possible landing spots. For Miami, it is the kind of league-wide development worth watching closely, since any star-level movement can reshape the trade market and the competition around the East.
Irving has been productive since returning from an ACL injury, averaging 21.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting efficiently, and Dallas still values the leadership and presence he brings. Even so, the speculation has not gone away, and there has been no confirmation from the Mavericks that he is actually available. For now, the situation sits in that uneasy space between performance and possibility, with the real question being whether the noise around Irving turns into something more concrete as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Klay Thompson Is Giving The Heat One Reason To Believe
The Heat have steadied themselves after an 0-4 start, and Klay Thompson has quickly become one of the clearest reasons why. Since arriving from Dallas, he has given Miami a more natural offensive rhythm, and his 25-point showing in the recent win over Indiana was the kind of night that reminded everyone why his presence matters beyond just the box score.
Miami is about to find out even more on a five-game Western Conference road trip that includes stops in Los Angeles and Golden State. For a team still trying to define itself early in the season, those games will offer a sharper test of whether Thompsons fit is real and sustainable, or just a welcome burst of early momentum. [Read more 🡒]