#miami-heat

#miami-heat

Trae Young could be on the trade block and, if he is, the Miami Heat can't help but explore what a potential pursuit could look like. Young may not be the perfect trade target for the Heat, but he's a superstar guard who does check a lot of the boxes of what the team could be looking for in a mid-season acquisition.

In what has already been a daunting first-half season schedule for the Miami Heat, they will face yet another tough matchup as they host multi-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Monday. Dating back to the 2023 NBA Finals, the Nuggets have won nine of their last 10 games against the Heat. Miami hasn't won a game versus them since Game 2 of those Finals, and they haven't beaten them in the regular season since 2021-22.

There have been a slew of injuries to star players throughout the NBA, including the Miami Heat. Tyler Herro is set to miss his 26th game of the season on Saturday, while Bam Adebayo is expected to miss his 8th. The list doesn't end there: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Anthony Davis, Ja Morant and Anthony Edwards, among several others, have all had prolonged absences due to injury.

Through the first 30 games of the season, the Miami Heat are somehow worse than they were last year. Especially after the impressive 14-7 start to this season, this has to be the biggest sign that it may indeed be time for the front office to blow up this roster. The Heat is 15-15 through 30 games this season, and was 16-14 at this point last year. That simply doesn't add up, and it can't be a great sign for the Heat moving forward.

While the NFL has done its best to invade Christmas Day, it will always belong to the NBA. The league's annual five-game slate is usually packed with the best and most intriguing matchups. In the midst of a dreadful nine-game stretch, the Miami Heat do not play on Christmas Day this year. But let's not forget that they are the best Christmas Day squad of all time.

While it wasn't exactly formal, exactly one year ago today, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler not-so-subtly requested a trade away from the organization. The relationship between and the organization continued to deteriorate over the next several weeks, which ultimately led to him being moved in early February to Golden State. While Miami fell apart down the stretch without its former star, its start to 2025-26 was much more encouraging.

While the trade occurred on Dec. 13, 2024, the deal did not become official until Dec. 15 because that's when Bryant became eligible to be dealt. Bryant opened up a roster spot that was evidently filled by Keshad Johnson, who was tearing up Sioux Falls on a two-way contract at the time. Since it was a non-simultaneous trade without any salary coming back, it also generated a small $2.1 million trade exception with the Heat.

In addition, as NBA insider Jake Fischer notes, it'd also have to come in a buy-low scenario. But that's not just unique to the Heat. There aren't many teams in the league at the moment that are willing to go "all-in" for AD. At this stage of his career, and with his injury history, it just doesn't make sense for any team to put their prime assets on the table for AD.

Paul went out of his way to praise the Heat's organization and what they've built over the last couple of decades. It's part of the reason why LeBron found so much success during his time in Miami. Heat Culture gets its praise Nevertheless, it's always great when the Heat is able to get their flowers. Even more so, considering that it has seemed that "Heat culture," which is being praised by Paul, has been under attack of late.