Heat must act boldly, even trade stars

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Miami Heat face a critical offseason and must be proactive and unafraid to spend if they hope to return to serious title contention.

The franchise should be prepared to remain above the luxury tax threshold, and possibly even into the second apron, if that’s what it takes to significantly upgrade the roster.

Jackson argues that Miami must cast a wide net and pursue impact stars, particularly if players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant, or Zion Williamson hit the trade market at reasonable prices.

While none of those stars are guaranteed to be available, the Heat must be ready to capitalize if circumstances shift.

Additionally, Jackson notes that Miami should explore trade opportunities with the Boston Celtics, who are projected to carry one of the most expensive payrolls in NBA history next season.

The Celtics may need to shed salary or reconfigure their roster to avoid punitive tax penalties, creating a potential window for a deal.

One creative avenue Miami could consider is renegotiating the terms of the first-round pick they owe Charlotte from the Terry Rozier trade.

Currently protected, that pick’s restrictions could be lifted in exchange for a long-term asset, possibly an unprotected 2032 first-rounder sweetened with other incentives.

Such a move would restore greater flexibility for the Heat in future deals by freeing up tradable picks.

Perhaps most notably, Jackson urges the Heat to stop overvaluing their current assets, including core pieces like Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.

While Adebayo remains a foundational piece for the franchise, and Herro is a talented young scorer, both should be considered in potential blockbuster trade scenarios if it means landing a truly elite player capable of elevating the franchise to championship level.

In summary, Jackson paints a picture of a franchise at a crossroads. Complacency and conservative asset management, he warns, won’t be enough.