The Miami Heat have already made the kind of offseason splash that changes the shape of a roster, but they weren’t done shopping for help around Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Miami’s biggest move came in June, when it landed Antetokounmpo in a massive deal with Milwaukee. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the full return this way: “The Milwaukee Bucks are trading franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks (including No. 13 in Tuesday's NBA draft), one pick swap and one second-round pick, sources told ESPN. The Heat are sending to Milwaukee unprotected first-rounders in 2031 and 2033 along with No. 13, a pick swap in 2030 and a 2033 second-rounder, according to sources,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote.
Even with that blockbuster in place, Miami kept exploring ways to add more talent. The Heat were also in the mix for LeBron James, and they had another high-level target in mind: NBA champion Luguentz "Lu" Dort.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that Miami was among the teams that checked in before Dort was moved. “Several teams expressed trade interest in acquiring Dort before he was traded to Atlanta, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, and Miami Heat, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote.
In the end, Atlanta won that race. Charania reported the framework of the deal like this: “The Thunder traded All-Defensive wing Luguentz Dort to the Hawks in a three-team deal that sent three second-round picks to Oklahoma City, 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Mavericks and Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta on Sunday,” Charania wrote.
Dort would have given Miami another elite defensive piece to slot alongside Davion Mitchell, Bam Adebayo and Antetokounmpo. He also would have added championship experience to a roster already loaded with talent.
Dort is on an $82 million contract, and it’s fair to wonder how aggressive Miami could have been after the Antetokounmpo trade. The Heat clearly had interest, but once they pushed their chips in for Antetokounmpo, their remaining trade flexibility was probably tighter than before.
In Other News...
Aday Mara Is Already Testing Thunder Fans Trust In Sam Presti
Aday Mara was brought in by the Thunder with a clear purpose in mind, to help address the teams need for rim protection. In a draft that always puts Sam Prestis judgment under the microscope, the selection immediately invited the usual questions about fit, upside and whether Oklahoma City was targeting a specific need or simply taking the best player it believed would be there.
The early returns have only sharpened that debate, even if the full verdict is still a long way off. Maras Summer League showing drew plenty of criticism and put fresh pressure on the logic behind the pick, leaving Thunder fans to wonder whether this was the kind of calculated swing that fits Prestis long-term approach or the rare move that could come back to haunt an otherwise strong draft rsum. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Fans Wont Love Where This Respected Former Coach Is Landing
Chip Engellands next stop is expected to be Houston, where the Rockets plan to bring in the veteran assistant coach and shooting specialist to join Ime Udokas staff. For Thunder fans, it is a familiar name with a strong reputation, since Engelland spent the last four seasons in Oklahoma City after a long run with the Spurs and built his career around helping players clean up their mechanics and become more reliable shooters.
The fit in Houston is obvious on paper, especially for a team looking to raise its 3-point volume and get more out of young pieces such as Amen Thompson and Tari Eason. It also adds a little more sting for Oklahoma City, which has seen Engellands influence up close and now has to watch him land with a Western Conference rival that clearly believes his shooting work can move the needle. [Read more 🡒]
Shai's Future In OKC Just Got Thunder Fans Thinking Bigger
Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders place in Thunder lore already feels secure enough that his own father is talking about it in those terms. Vaughn Alexander said on the No Flukes Podcast that his son has earned his spot in Oklahoma City history and voiced hope that Shai stays put, a sentiment that lands differently in a market where stars do not always get the same runway to settle in and build something lasting.
Part of the appeal, Vaughn suggested, is the simplicity of life in Oklahoma City, where there is less nightlife and fewer distractions and Shai can just focus on hooping. He contrasted that with places like Toronto, where family and associates can create a different kind of pull, but even with that perspective, the future remains more wish than certainty, and Thunder fans are left wondering how long this partnership can keep growing. [Read more 🡒]