The Miami Heat, described as “stagnant,” have had a lackluster offseason, while other teams have made significant strides. The Philadelphia 76ers signed Paul George, the New York Knicks added Michael Bridges, and the Boston Celtics remain the reigning champions.
In contrast, the Heat’s most notable summer acquisition has been Alec Burks, a solid but not game-changing player. With the departure of Caleb Martin to the 76ers, the Heat’s roster might even be weaker than before, highlighting the need for the team to take action.
The Denver Nuggets, who defeated the Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals to win their first championship, are facing a similar situation, having lost key players from their title-winning roster. This raises the question of whether the Nuggets might consider a major trade to shake things up. Ishaan Bhattacharya proposed a bold three-team trade on FadeAway World, where Julian Strawther, Kelly Olynyk, and Jamal Murray would join the Heat.
In return, the Nuggets would receive Josh Richardson, Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, and a 2029 first-round pick from Miami. Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors would acquire Duncan Robinson, a 2026 second-round pick from the Lakers, and a 2031 second-round pick from Denver.
Three stars that the Heat almost traded for and might have won a championship.
Since Jimmy Butler’s arrival in South Florida, the Miami Heat have experienced significant success, reaching two NBA Finals and nearly making a third within five years. These achievements came as underdogs, with the Heat making their Finals runs as a fifth and eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Despite these impressive playoff performances, the Heat have fallen short of winning a championship, a source of frustration for fans. The team’s inability to secure the ultimate prize has been painful, and many wonder which rumored acquisitions could have delivered a title.
It’s clear that the Heat have been just one key piece away from getting over the hump. However, due to salary cap constraints, the front office has relied on the health and internal development of the roster to improve each year. They have shown faith in this core group, giving them multiple chances to win a championship. But time is running out, as Butler approaches his 35th birthday.
That said, Pat Riley and the Heat’s management have explored opportunities to add more star power from the outside. Here are three players linked to the Heat in trade rumors who could have potentially led them to a long-awaited championship:
Donovan Mitchell
Donovan Mitchell, now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, was connected to the Heat in trade rumors in both 2022 and 2024. In 2022, Mitchell was seeking a change of scenery from the Utah Jazz after his time there had peaked. Heat fans were excited about the possibility, especially with offseason content showing him working out with Bam Adebayo. However, despite mutual interest, Mitchell was ultimately traded to the Cavaliers.
The Miami Heat are expected to have interest in Donovan Mitchell, per @WindhorstESPN pic.twitter.com/EhTlWinH25
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 19, 2023
In 2024, as Mitchell approached a contract extension, there was speculation that he might hit the trade market again if he didn’t re-sign with Cleveland. Once again, reports linked him to Miami, but he ended up agreeing to a lucrative contract with the Cavaliers, ending the Heat’s hopes.
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant would have been the ultimate addition to complement Butler and Adebayo. A two-time NBA champion and former MVP, Durant’s scoring ability and defensive length would have made him the perfect superstar to lead the Heat to a championship.
Phoenix and Miami are among two of the teams that Kevin Durant has on his wish list, sources tell ESPN, but the Nets plan to move Durant where they can get the best possible deal. With four years on his contract, there's no shortage of teams willing to unload assets for Durant.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022
In 2022, after Donovan Mitchell was traded to Cleveland, Miami shifted its focus to Durant, who had requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets due to off-court issues with teammates and injuries. Despite the opportunity, the Heat didn’t show enough aggressiveness to secure a deal, and the trade ultimately fell through. Durant was later traded to the Phoenix Suns at the following trade deadline, with Miami not even involved in the process.
Damian Lillard
The most painful trade rumor for Heat fans involved Damian Lillard just one summer ago. After another Finals run, the Heat were in their best position to finally secure a missing piece to win it all. Lillard requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers and specifically named Miami as his preferred destination.
Breaking: Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has requested a trade out of Portland, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets are among leading suitors for one of the NBA’s 75 Greatest Players ever. pic.twitter.com/nw8OIepAHz
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2023
A Lillard-Heat pairing would have added a star scorer to a team lacking point guard depth, and his close relationship with Adebayo made the move even more appealing. With no other teams on Lillard’s radar, it seemed almost certain that Miami would land him. However, trade talks didn’t progress as expected, and Portland’s GM, Joe Cronin, ultimately traded Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal, leaving the Heat empty-handed.
These missed opportunities highlight how close the Heat have been to adding that final piece, but as Butler’s career progresses, their chances may be slipping away.
Chris Bosh, the Miami Heat legend, recently traveled to Slovenia to celebrate his former teammate Goran Dragic’s illustrious career at the “Night of the Dragon,” which marked Dragic’s final game.
This event was also significant for Bosh, as it marked his first time playing on the court since 2016. Bosh, a two-time NBA champion and a key part of the Heat’s “Big Three” alongside Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, had to retire at the age of 31 due to a blood clotting issue.
The Heat released Bosh in 2017, and although he initially seemed focused on a comeback, he officially retired in early 2019. In a recent interview, Bosh revealed that he had received offers to play in Europe after his NBA career ended but chose not to pursue them due to the challenges it would have posed for his family.
According to NBC Sports, Bosh stated, “I wasn’t in a position where I wanted to up and move my family. That was when I had my babies. Taking that as a sign, I carried on with my life. However, I received two offers. It was not in Greece. France and Spain, within the EuroLeague.” Despite his early departure, Bosh’s time with the Heat remains one of the most successful periods in the franchise’s history.
He was instrumental in leading the team to two NBA Championships and four consecutive NBA Finals appearances. In 2019, the Heat retired Bosh’s jersey in recognition of his contributions.
Leaving the game during his prime was undoubtedly difficult, but given his circumstances, it was the right decision. We can only wish him the best in the future.
