The Miami Heat are in the process of a rebuild to become a title contender in the near future. Unfortunately, it is also abundantly clear that the team is lacking in the superstar department at the moment.
Since their last championship run, the Heat have always been an organization spearheaded by superstars that fit the image of the “Heat Mentality”. Led by head coach Erik Spoelstra and president Pat Riley, Miami has been one of the most successful NBA franchises when headlined by such stars.
The team currently features a talented duo in Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. With Herro earning his first All-Star appearance this season, the team is well on its way to forming a certified core. But it is not enough.
The Heat had to give up a bona fide star in Jimmy Butler last season. In return, they received a talented wing with championship experience in Andrew Wiggins. But it has been made apparent that Wiggins is not a first-option star either.
Miami needs to make some major changes to be competitive again. In light of this, a player that could be the right fit is New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson.
At 24 years old, Williamson fits the timeline for the Heat. While there are pre-existing concerns involving his health and personal life, Miami could be the right place for him to make a fresh start.
The Pelicans have made their intentions to trade the forward quite apparent. While he has garnered interest from a few teams, the Detroit Pistons being the primary link, the forward hasn’t seen an offer just yet.
With this in mind, we look at a trade proposal with the Pelicans to help the Heat bring Williamson over to Florida.
Proposed Trade Details
Miami Heat Receive: Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jacquez Jr., Duncan Robinson, 2030 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick
Zion Williamson Could Transform The Heat Roster
The notion of Zion Williamson joining the Miami Heat is certainly an intriguing one. The Pelicans star has been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism regarding his health, his conditioning, and the scandals that have plagued his personal life.
By virtue of the bad publicity that Williamson has received, a lot of which he is responsible for, the consensus has been that he’s a washed-up star. But it is easy to forget that the 24-year-old is one of the most exciting and dominant players on the floor when he is healthy.
In the 2024-25 season, Williamson only played in 30 games for New Orleans. In this span of games, however, the forward notched an average of 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists on shooting splits of 56.7% from the field.
William’s ludicrous efficiency makes for a terrifying prospect when he’s healthy. Unfortunately, even while he was on the floor, he couldn’t impact winning for his team in the greater context of things last season.
Acquiring Williamson would be beneficial for the Heat as well as the star. The largest concern with the 24-year-old has been his conditioning and his mentality. In a system coached by Spoelstra, the forward would have no option but to adapt, and this could be what motivates him to fulfill his potential.
Additionally, a core of Herro, Adebayo, Wiggins, and Williamson has terrifying potential. With Wiggins and Herro acting as outside threats, the frontcourt pair of Williamson and Adebayo would feast under the basket and the midrange. The Pelicans forward also boasts impressive playmaking ability, which would give Miami a lot of roster flexibility.
The inherent concerns are associated with how the Heat would get Williamson to buy into the idea of bettering himself. With an opportunity to prove a lot of naysayers wrong, the 24-year-old would do well to stay motivated if he were to make this move.
The New Orleans Pelicans Can Structure A Rebuild
Having seen some incredible highs and some terrible lows in the last few seasons, it may be time for the New Orleans Pelicans to call it quits on their latest project. With another failed campaign in the books, the Pelicans have all but resigned to a rebuild.
A trade like this would help them get started in the right direction. The acquisition of young players like Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jacques Jr. gives them enough runway to stay mildly competitive in the regular season. Meanwhile, a player like Duncan Robinson is a good expiring contract to have, as he would free up almost $20 million next season.
Jovic has shown interesting upside as a stretch four. With an average of 10.7 points and 3.9 rebounds on shooting splits of 45.6% from the field and 37.1% from beyond the arc, he could shine when given more playing time.
Meanwhile, Jacquez Jr. has showcased a lot of talent, and to some extent, could even develop into a key rotation player in the right system. Coming off his sophomore season, he recorded an average of 8.8 points and 4.4 rebounds on 46.1% FG.
The real takeaways for the Pelicans in this deal are the two first-round picks they receive from Miami. Given that they have the No. 7 pick in this year’s draft, New Orleans will find itself in a position to trace the outline for their rebuild as well.
