2025-26 Miami Heat Regular Season Thread 3.0

[3ammy3uck3ts]

While in full pursuit of Giannis I’m also side eyeing the Julius Randle led Wolves currently being on a 5 game losing streak and sitting in the play in. I said the Towns trade would be the beginning of the end for the group, Ant is up next.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

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Man... emptying the clip and extending him for 75-85M a year when he's had four calf strains, each keeping him out about a month in two seasons is kind of terrifying for what it means to his future availability and potential other injuries...

Why didn't we tank again last year?
I really wanted durant. Not if it cost us a giannis type package but man ... i wish I knew what package would've gotten him to us altho im sure suns v happy with the frp and Dillon Brooks arrival.

I have no idea what I even want the Heat to do now.

Top 3 player in the world; gotta take the gamble Lenny!

[3ammy3uck3ts]

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Anything less than 4-1 is a failure.

[SA37]

The new move is going to be letting guys test the FA market. Let Herro for example hit free agency, no contender will have the cap to sign him, no building team is going to shell out 30 mil for him either. You then bring him back on something like 20-25 million and make him what he should be. A 6th man microwave scorer. He can be the white Jamal Crawford

It is not that Herro is a bad player, it is that his usage has to be really high to be effective. Starting him makes things really clunky, and it is hard for other guys to get in a rhythm. You run Tyler with a second unit, load it with defense and athleticism and let him go score he can be highly effective in that role.

This teams issue is not having an A tier star, that does not mean Tyler or Bam are bad players, they just are not Anthony Edwards or Giannis

Give him the Kuminga treatment

Historically, Riley is loyal to his players almost to a fault (see: Jovic as the most recent example). I think Miami would prefer to "take care" of Herro rather than risk having another destabilizing scenario over a contract dispute. Herro at the right number and a singular healthy season improves his trade value immensely and would give Miami the best of both worlds: a borderline all-star on a team-friendly deal and a guy who would be easy to move and potentially more valuable because of his contract (think Trey Murphy).

Of course, if Miami finds a deal for Herro before then, it becomes a moot point.

[SA37]

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Man... emptying the clip and extending him for 75-85M a year when he's had four calf strains, each keeping him out about a month in two seasons is kind of terrifying for what it means to his future availability and potential other injuries...

Why didn't we tank again last year?
I really wanted durant. Not if it cost us a giannis type package but man ... i wish I knew what package would've gotten him to us altho im sure suns v happy with the frp and Dillon Brooks arrival.

I have no idea what I even want the Heat to do now.

You can't pass on Giannis if he's available unless the asking prize is just insane (anything above 2 unprotected picks and a swap depending on the outgoing players).

It'd be better for Miami to acquire him in the summer to avoid paying the supermax. But getting a guy who is likely to play MVP-level basketball over the next 3-4 seasons is not a chance that comes along often.

I know people like to think of putting together some young team that could stay together for a decade, but the reality is you're lucky if you squeeze a 3-5-year run out of a group. It's better to think of team building in ~4-year cycles, and Powell, Wiggins, Giannis, Bam would fit that window perfectly. And if the pieces around those guys fit, then Miami might have the chance to quickly re-load around Larsson, Jaquez, Jovic, and possibly Jakucionis (or whoever Miami manages to develop over the 4-5 year window).

[Vertical Limit]

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What could’ve been

Our fans said they cant haveware hes untouchable lol.. imagine this lineup

Larrson
Powell
Wiggins
Durant
Bam

[Flash4thewin]

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Man... emptying the clip and extending him for 75-85M a year when he's had four calf strains, each keeping him out about a month in two seasons is kind of terrifying for what it means to his future availability and potential other injuries...

Why didn't we tank again last year?
I really wanted durant. Not if it cost us a giannis type package but man ... i wish I knew what package would've gotten him to us altho im sure suns v happy with the frp and Dillon Brooks arrival.

I have no idea what I even want the Heat to do now.

You can't pass on Giannis if he's available unless the asking prize is just insane (anything above 2 unprotected picks and a swap depending on the outgoing players).

It'd be better for Miami to acquire him in the summer to avoid paying the supermax. But getting a guy who is likely to play MVP-level basketball over the next 3-4 seasons is not a chance that comes along often.

I know people like to think of putting together some young team that could stay together for a decade, but the reality is you're lucky if you squeeze a 3-5-year run out of a group. It's better to think of team building in ~4-year cycles, and Powell, Wiggins, Giannis, Bam would fit that window perfectly. And if the pieces around those guys fit, then Miami might have the chance to quickly re-load around Larsson, Jaquez, Jovic, and possibly Jakucionis (or whoever Miami manages to develop over the 4-5 year window).

Just using common sense here, in what universe will the Bucks trade him for anything less than a 2 unprotected picks, swaps and a blue chip player? They will ask an insane price, not doing so is gross malpractice. Even Billy King and Nico would blush at the idea of trading Giannis for less that two unprotected picks, and swaps etc. So speed running the thought process, we will pass because we can’t afford the asking price and end up with some bs cop out like he doesnt fit our culture or we have enough. The other thing to remember is Jaquez is up to get paid this offseason.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

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[SA37]

Spoiler:

Man... emptying the clip and extending him for 75-85M a year when he's had four calf strains, each keeping him out about a month in two seasons is kind of terrifying for what it means to his future availability and potential other injuries...

Why didn't we tank again last year?
I really wanted durant. Not if it cost us a giannis type package but man ... i wish I knew what package would've gotten him to us altho im sure suns v happy with the frp and Dillon Brooks arrival.

I have no idea what I even want the Heat to do now.

You can't pass on Giannis if he's available unless the asking prize is just insane (anything above 2 unprotected picks and a swap depending on the outgoing players).

It'd be better for Miami to acquire him in the summer to avoid paying the supermax. But getting a guy who is likely to play MVP-level basketball over the next 3-4 seasons is not a chance that comes along often.

I know people like to think of putting together some young team that could stay together for a decade, but the reality is you're lucky if you squeeze a 3-5-year run out of a group. It's better to think of team building in ~4-year cycles, and Powell, Wiggins, Giannis, Bam would fit that window perfectly. And if the pieces around those guys fit, then Miami might have the chance to quickly re-load around Larsson, Jaquez, Jovic, and possibly Jakucionis (or whoever Miami manages to develop over the 4-5 year window).

Just using common sense here, in what universe will the Bucks trade him for anything less than a 2 unprotected picks, swaps and a blue chip player? They will ask an insane price, not doing so is gross malpractice. Even Billy King and Nico would blush at the idea of trading Giannis for less that two unprotected picks, and swaps etc. So speed running the thought process, we will pass because we can’t afford the asking price and end up with some bs cop out like he doesnt fit our culture or we have enough. The other thing to remember is Jaquez is up to get paid this offseason.

The Bucks can ask for whatever they want, but they have an increasingly toxic situation building with their star player, who happens to have a PO on his deal for the summer of 27'. The closer it gets to that PO, the less leverage the Bucks have. Even now, Giannis has some say where he goes because any threat to opt out and test FA will tank his value (relatively speaking).

My guess is Giannis would be ok going to GS (Butler), the Lakers (Lebron), Boston (J Brown), Miami, New York (KAT), OKC (Chet), and maybe Dallas (AD) or Houston (Sengun).

LeBron has a no-trade clause and doesn't seem interested in moving mid-season and the Lakers have garbage assets, which rules out the Lakers.

NY has very little draft capital and almost no way of acquiring draft assets without gutting their team.

Going to Dallas would require a leap of faith in Irving returning and Dallas finding a taker for AD, so a long shot. Similarly, a trade with Houston almost has to include Sengun if the Rockets don't want to gut their team, and that basically leaves Durant as the only established player on the Rockets. I'd call this a long-shot.

Golden St needs a taker for Butler, so a long shot.

Boston would have to include Brown in any deal, and I am not sure what their pick situation is. They really don't have many other pieces they could offer outside of Brown since they already dismantled their team.

That leaves OKC and Miami.

If OKC offers Chet and some of their gazillion picks, it's over. Otherwise, Miami has the best mix of cap relief, young players, and picks.