The Miami Heat were in on all of the bigger names to be had this offseason, at least, according to most rumors and reports. Of course, as Kevin Durant had them and the Suns atop his list, they pursued him.
Though some would argue that they didn’t have an interest or at what point that interest stopped, all signs point to them, at least, having a conversation about Donovan Mitchell prior to his trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers as well.
Whether it be the guy Utah received back from Cleveland, Collin Sexton, Gordon Hayward, or even John Collins, the Miami Heat have seen themselves thrown into the mix for most of the names thrown out there this offseason.
And while this wouldn’t have been the case in a potential deal for all of the guys mentioned, some who may have not even been mentioned here even, there is one near certainty when it comes to guys like Mitchell or Durant.
The Miami Heat would have, likely, had to move their latest NBA draft pick to get a deal done. Before even seeing him, Nikola Jovic would have probably been gone.
The Miami Heat didn’t strike a deal on the trade market this offseason, but it isn’t all bad. At least they didn’t trade Nikola Jovic, their latest draftee.
Not having to do that for them should work out to be a positive move. Though his summer showings were cut short due to injury, he was able to show you a little of that versatility that had him leap aboard the radars of most NBA evaluators prior to the draft.
He has the size, he has the ball skills, and he has the ability to generate offense at multiple levels. He’s still raw and by no means a finished product, but the tools that he has to work with make for a pretty interesting investigation for the Miami Heat.
And that’s a major factor here. The Miami Heat constantly get the most out of the least, making players out of guys that come in with far less fanfare, ability, or physical gifts than Jovic has.
Lastly, the Miami Heat, at the moment, have quite a bit to figure out about their rotation at the power forward spot after losing P.J. Tucker. While Jovic may not have a huge say in those proceedings early on or even this year, there is something there to figure out as well.
Either way it goes, whether that be immediately or with time, Jovic’s profile presents an intrigue that should leave you with the desire to see it out. Without a deal made by the Miami Heat this offseason, we’ll get to see that happen, and that’s not such a bad thing at all.