The Miami Heat could take a big step towards revitalizing themselves as contenders in the NBA by making major trades. The team has been gun-shy all offseason long, signing Alec Burks to be their only major summer addition so far. They need reinforcements to keep up with the top teams in the East after the Celtics dominated their way to a title, with the Knicks and 76ers loading up to challenge them.
The Heat have been unwilling to make bets which could cause them to lose future trade assets, but what else are they waiting for? We’ve seen the Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo duo make multiple Finals appearances without any major reinforcements. If they’re willing to pay a pick price, they could snag two tremendous young talents from the Utah Jazz who could be immediate impact players while providing long-term value.
Trade Details
Miami Heat Receive: Collin Sexton, Walker Kessler
Utah Jazz Receive: Terry Rozier, Nikola Jovic, 2028 First-Round Pick Swap (MIA), 2029 First-Round Pick (MIA)
The Heat have been content with riding the middle of the pack in the East and hoping their Playoff smarts allow them to make a run. But with injury concerns for primary offensive players such as Butler and Tyler Herro, the Heat need to add more top-end talent that can support the franchise through the doldrums and be able to keep them in the race for top-six instead of being a perennial Play-In team.
The Miami Heat Have To Give The Butler-Adebayo Duo Some Help
There are concerns around Jimmy Butler’s long-term fit on the Heat, but that doesn’t mean they continue punting away season in Bam Adebayo’s prime, who has fully emerged as one of the elite big men in the NBA. Adebayo has made his jumper a reliable weapon, adding versatility to his game that should prompt the Heat to add more talent around him and the proven Butler for contention.
Collin Sexton averaged 18.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists last season, thriving as a combo guard on the Jazz despite the franchise being directionless at the moment. Sexton doesn’t factor into the Jazz’s future like their other core pieces, and the team could move off him for a steep price while has two years left on his contract.
Sexton could supercharge the Heat’s struggling offense alongside Herro while being a high-energy player who could thrive in a winning opportunity in the infamous Heat Culture.
The Jazz have concerns with Walker Kessler’s future on the team despite the center finishing third in Rookie of the Year in 2023. The center is limited in his abilities outside being a rim protector and elite interior defender, with the Heat swooping him up in this deal to justify the two first-round picks they’re sending.
He averaged 8.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks last season. It’s not a star addition but allows the Heat to upgrade their roster majorly with two young players who could retain their value better than Rozier would.
The Jazz Add More Assets And An Intriguing Piece
The Jazz are still finding the identity of their squad, which is expected to be built around Lauri Markkanen after the Finnish forward’s long-term commitment to the franchise. Sexton doesn’t fit into the long-term vision Will Hardy imagines for this team, with Isaiah Collier coming into the team as a first-round pick. While there isn’t a substitute for Kessler, the Jazz have shown a proclivity to run a more mobile lineup with John Collins at center.
Terry Rozier would be a stopgap option in their guard rotation, likely being on the trade block for any contender who might need a scorer near the deadline. He averaged 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists last season and was a deadline-day acquisition for the Heat, one that hasn’t worked out. He could be a veteran for Collier and other young guards on the roster too, provided he buys into that role.
Nikola Jovic is the main piece of this deal, with the 21-year-old Serbian forward proving to be a potentially high-potential player, but one who doesn’t have the freedom to develop his game within the Heat system right now. Getting major win-now pieces for a player who averaged 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists last season would be a strong come-up for the Heat, though it carries risk.
Is The Price Justified?
Trading away the rights to two picks and a 21-year-old for two players who can contribute instantly doesn’t seem that bad a deal. Given one of the picks is a swap, the Heat would still have a pick in that Draft. If they’re good, it likely won’t convey, with players like Sexton and Jazz young enough to remain competent four years from now.
There would be concerns about the fit but we’ve seen Adebayo thrive as a four-man for Team USA, showing the rapid improvements he’s made in his shooting stroke. He doesn’t need to be a sniper, but the Heat have the pieces to run Kessler-Adebayo lineups with Bam flashing out to the three-point line. Defensively, it covers up Adebayo’s only weakness, which is vertical rim protection. That’s Kessler’s forte, with his lack of mobility being covered phenomenally by Adebayo.
The Jazz get a valuable young piece and two picks for players with questionable trade value. Rozier could lead to further assets down the line for the franchise, which could add more value to this deal. The Heat need to commit to a direction rather than waiting out whatever happens with Butler. Even if he thinks about leaving at the end of the year, these players create more of a structure the Heat can rely upon beyond Butler’s departure.
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