Although most of the trade speculation has honed in on big names like Jimmy Butler and De’Aaron Fox, aging playoff teams have spent the early portion of the trade season calendar making minor moves to bolster their roster.
Earlier this month, the Golden State Warriors traded for Dennis Schroder. Then the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Dorian Finney-Smith over the weekend. The Heat are in a similar position, with limited assets and a closing window.
If we are to believe Pat Riley’s claim that the Heat will not trade Jimmy Butler this season, then the Heat should be scanning the market for moves that could help nudge them up in the Eastern Conference standings.
Here are four minor trade ideas that could help the Heat address their need for size and spacing in the frontcourt.
1. Kelly Olynyk returns
Miami gets: Kelly Olynyk, Chris Boucher
Toronto gets: Terry Rozier, 2026 second-round pick (via LAL), 2031 second-round pick
The Raptors are in a race to the bottom of the standings and, according to NBA insider Marc Stein, have made Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown available for second-round picks. The Heat have two tradable second round picks and can include them with Terry Rozier’s contract to match salary for Olynyk and Chris Boucher.
Olynyk was a key part of the Heat’s 2020 Finals run before being included in a trade for Victor Oladipo a year later. Since then, he’s bounced between losing situations in Houston, Detroit, Utah and Toronto. Rejoining the Heat would be a welcome change of scenery, and he could slot in next to Bam Adebayo right away.
2. Heat make dramatic upgrade at center
Miami gets: Nikola Vucevic, Talen Horton-Tucker
Chicago gets: Duncan Robinson, Josh Richardson, 2031 second-round pick
Nikola Vucevic is having one of his best offensive seasons, averaging 20.7 points on 45.5% shooting from beyond the arc. The Chicago Bulls are reportedly seeking second-round picks for the 34-year-old.
The Heat could offer Duncan Robinson and a future second-round pick. Parting with Robinson would be difficult, considering his value as a spacer next to Tyler Herro, Butler and Herro. But Vucevic’s size and spacing could prompt a dramatic shift in the starting lineup. Vucevic could step in at center, allowing Adebayo to slide to power forward. Butler, Highsmith and Herro could round out a suddenly jumbo-sized starting lineup that doesn’t sacrifice too much shot creation or shooting.
3. Heat get the other Nets player
Miami gets: Cameron Johnson
Brooklyn gets: Duncan Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr.
If the Heat truly want to get on the same page as the Warriors and Lakers, then they should trade for the other Brooklyn Nets player widely considered to be available. Cameron Johnson might be the best of the group that started the season in Brooklyn. The 6-foot-8 stretch 4 is averaging a career-high 19.1 points while shooting 43% on 3s.
Johnson is a versatile, two-way player who, at 28, won’t come cheap. Reports indicate that the Nets are seeking a first-round pick. The Heat only have one first-round pick that they can trade right now, but what if they offered last year’s first-round selection instead? It would be difficult to part with Jaime Jaquez Jr., even during a down season, but this is the kind of win-now move the Heat have been reluctant to make in the past.
Adding Johnson to a starting lineup that includes Herro, Highsmith, Butler and Adebayo would pump up Miami’s defense and allow the Heat to return to a high-octane, switching scheme. Johnson essentially replaces Robinson, providing size and shooting but also a much higher level of defense.
4. Heat and Lakers swap role players
Miami gets: Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Markieff Morris
Lakers get: Terry Rozier, Josh Richardson
Dallas gets: Kevin Love
With D’Angelo Russell now in Brooklyn, the Lakers have a hole at point guard. Rozier wouldn’t do worse than Russell, and could start or come off the bench like D’Lo did.
In return, the Heat would get Rui Hachimura, who could provide size and athleticism in the frontcourt. They also bring back Gabe Vincent to add depth in the backcourt. The Heat swap Kevin Love for Markieff Morris to make the money work, and Love gets to play for a title contender in Dallas.
Hachimura and Vincent give the Heat a pair of valuable bench players who can provide a spark during a potential playoff run.
While the Heat wouldn’t be saving money next season, the smaller contracts of both Hachimura and Vincent will be easier to trade than Rozier’s $26.6 million salary in the offseason if Butler walks and the Heat need to retool.