NBA Rumors: The 3 Stars in Miami's Crosshairs to Join Giannis

The Miami Heat will face the 2026-27 season as one of the most potent teams in the Eastern Conference. The arrival of Giannis Antetokounmpo has provided a significant boost to the franchise, while the additions of Klay Thompson and Nick Richards have further strengthened their candidacy. However, the big question is whether all of this will be enough.

Despite the strength of their roster, ESPN places Miami in seventh position in the East for the upcoming season, with a projected record of 47 wins. Furthermore, there are doubts about the depth at the point guard position behind Davion Mitchell, meaning the Heat may still need to address some significant issues in their lineup.

The February market can change everything

At this point, Miami does not have any significant trades at their disposal. However, the arrival of the trade deadline could turn into a particularly interesting opportunity to transform the team.

The Heat have been linked to several names, including Kevin Durant. Barry Jackson from the Miami Herald also mentioned three other targets that the franchise might consider: Kyrie Irving, Zach LaVine, and Jrue Holiday.

All three are former All-Stars and, despite being in the later stages of their careers, could enhance Miami's chances of contending for the championship. Jackson finds it challenging to identify a path for the Heat to acquire Irving or Holiday, although it wouldn’t necessarily be impossible.

Moreover, Miami has retained the complete mid-level exception for teams that do not pay luxury tax for the summer of 2027, a tool that could facilitate the arrival of one of these players.

Kyrie Irving, a top offensive solution

Trade proposal:

Miami Heat would receive: Kyrie Irving and Marcus Sasser
Dallas Mavericks would receive: Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic, and a first-round pick in 2029

This move could be interesting for Dallas. The Mavericks intend to build around Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg, but reports suggest the franchise could change direction if the team does not perform at the expected level before the trade deadline.

That scenario would open the door for Miami to negotiate for the nine-time All-Star.

To absorb the $39.4 million salary impact of Irving, the Heat would need to offload the $30 million of Andrew Wiggins and the $16.2 million of Nikola Jovic. However, since Dallas might not be interested in taking on nearly an additional $6.8 million in salary, including Marcus Sasser and his $5.1 million would make sense.

Irving would be an extraordinary offensive addition for Miami. Considered one of the great scorers in the NBA, he would immediately elevate the offensive potential of the rotation and could turn the Heat into title contenders.

During the 2024-25 season, Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.

For the Mavericks, parting with a player of such caliber would be complicated, although they would receive Wiggins with a declining salary impact, a promising young forward like Jovic, and a first-round pick. Still, Dallas could potentially secure an even better offer.

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Jrue Holiday, a fit with Giannis

Trade proposal:

Miami Heat would receive: Jrue Holiday
Portland Trail Blazers would receive: Andrew Wiggins, Tim Hardaway Jr., and a first-round pick swap in 2032

Jrue Holiday is another player Miami could attempt to bring in before the trade market closes. The Portland Trail Blazers have an excess of guards in their starting lineup, so they might consider trading Holiday to strengthen other positions on their roster.

For Miami, creating the necessary space to absorb the $34.8 million of his contract would be slightly easier than with Irving.

The Heat could package Wiggins' $30 million and Tim Hardaway Jr.'s $6 million, in addition to including a first-round pick swap. This way, they would not only have enough space but also reduce their salary cap by $1.2 million, allowing for greater flexibility to add two more players with minimum veteran contracts to complete their 15-player roster.

In some aspects, Holiday's arrival could have a similar impact to Irving's. Beyond his experience as a champion, his chemistry with Giannis Antetokounmpo would be an important factor in achieving victories.

Last season, Holiday averaged 16.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. His profile is similar to that of Davion Mitchell and could represent an improvement in certain contexts.

For Portland, losing Holiday's defensive impact would be the main downside of the operation. However, adding Wiggins, who can defend multiple positions, and Hardaway Jr.'s scoring ability could help offset the loss of the two-time champion.

Zach LaVine, the most realistic alternative

Trade proposal:

Miami Heat would receive: Zach LaVine
Sacramento Kings would receive: Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic, Simone Fontecchio, and a first-round pick swap in 2032

While the acquisitions of Irving or Holiday would be more appealing, Miami may not have the necessary assets to convince Dallas or Portland. For that reason, as Jackson notes, Zach LaVine appears to be the most realistic option for the Heat.

On paper, LaVine provides precisely the type of offensive production Miami needs. Although he is known for his athleticism, the two-time All-Star is also a versatile scorer and has the ability to heat up from beyond the three-point line.

Furthermore, he has been mentioned throughout the summer in trade rumors, so the Sacramento Kings may be willing to part with him at the trade deadline.

His numbers from last season, with 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game and a 47.9% shooting percentage, do not inspire much confidence. However, his 39.0% from three could be more significant within a system where he would share the floor with Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

The major obstacle would be his contract. To acquire the $48.9 million salary impact of LaVine, the Heat would need to send Sacramento a total of $48.6 million through Wiggins, Jovic, and Simone Fontecchio.

The move would leave Miami $2.1 million below the first apron, forcing the franchise to fill three roster spots with minimum contracts.

Miami would need to assess the cost of each operation

Acquiring LaVine could somewhat undermine the Heat's contender status, mainly because it would involve parting with an elite defender like Wiggins.

However, the operation would also allow Miami to free up a considerable amount of money for next summer. That flexibility could be used by the franchise to make a significant move in free agency and transform their roster once again.

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