After missing out on the opportunity to land a star player this offseason, it does seem as if the Miami Heat is still building toward a big move in 2026, if not before. While the pipe dreams of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic are well noted, there's an interesting plan B trade target that could emerge as an option for the Heat: Trae Young.
And if the recent whispers are any indication, the Hawks may have just gifted the perfect fallback plan for the Heat heading into next summer. According to a recent report from NBA scribe Marc Spears, the Hawks and Young have not held "substantive talks" on a contract extension yet.
That doesn't mean they won't eventually get there, but the extension will be the ultimate sign of commitment from both sides. It simply hasn't happened yet, and that only naturally opens the door to uncertainty.
With the way the Hawks operated this summer by adding Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kristaps Porzingis, there's a reason to believe that this franchise is doing what it can to build around Young. However, giving him the four-year, $229 million extension that he's eligible for is an entirely different story than adding two low-risk, high-reward players to their supporting cast.
Heat could take advantage of the Hawks' indecisiveness
If there's any hesitation from the Hawks' perspective, the Heat could jump in and try to add Young as a great running mate next to Bam Adebayo (and possibly Tyler Herro). In theory, if the Heat is going to strike big in landing a star player in the foreseeable future, it's probably going to come via a situation like this one.
I wouldn't say that Young would be the Heat's first trade option heading into next summer by any means, but if the likes of Giannis and Luka are off the table, it wouldn't be the worst-case scenario for Miami.
And unless the Heat is willing to take another "gap" year in stride, this is a team that will almost certainly be looking to make a move sooner rather than later. Perhaps Young fits as a logical plan B.
Even after the move for Norman Powell earlier this offseason, the Heat still lacks a No. 1 option, and preferably a No. 1 option who can also emerge as a dynamic playmaker for the team. Young does fit that description that the Heat may be looking for.
Again, Young is not a hands-down franchise-altering superstar player, and that's part of the reason why Atlanta could have some hesitation in giving him a monster extension. But if the Heat believe that Young is worth the money, they're a team that could find value in adding him next to their budding supporting cast.
You'd imagine Miami is going to have some plan B options lined up as they look to make a blockbuster move in the next 12 months. Somewhere along the lines, Young is probably going to be included in their hypothetical plans.