The Miami Heat could be quick to pull the trigger on a blockbuster offseason deal prior to the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign.
Following the departure of ex-Heat superstar Jimmy Butler through a mid-season trade to the Golden State Warriors last season, the Heat’s team president Pat Riley will likely be itching to agree to terms on another franchise-altering deal.
According to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, the Heat may look to target a superstar Eastern Conference point guard in a move that has the potential to transform the team into a dark-horse contender overnight.
By prospectively pairing their first-time All-Star Tyler Herro and superstar big Bam Adebayo with the flashy play-maker, the franchise could soar to new heights on the offensive end.
“If (Trae) Young is the best veteran star Miami can add this summer, would the team balk at the price?” Pincus wrote.
“Young would expect a new, long-term extension, with Miami investing heavily in the threesome (with Herro and Adebayo).”
“The risk for Miami would be on the offensive firepower vs. the defensive liability pairing of Young and Herro, and how much the bigs can offset those issues.”
“It’s not a ‘no-brainer,’ but the talent upgrade may be hard to argue against, provided the Heat believe Young is an answer to the team’s missing offensive firepower.”
Trae Young‘s 7-year Atlanta Hawks tenure could plausibly end in the coming months, and the Heat might be ready and able to land the 4-time All-Star.
Pincus suggests that Miami can do so by offering Atlanta a gargantuan haul consisting of Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, 2023 All-Rookie First Team selection Jamie Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Pelle Larsson and two first-round draft selection this summer.
If Young were to don a Heat uniform and share the backcourt with the established on-ball threat Herro, the two could form a deadly scoring attack.
Though his main source of production comes from his defensive capabilities, the hypothetical pick-and-roll tandem of Young and Adebayo would likely become one of the most fearsome in the entire NBA.
