As the new calendar year arrives, there are two bold predictions for the Miami Heat that could have the rest of the NBA fearing for the future. Kevin O'Connor predicts that the Heat will be a top destination for a star again, and CBS Sports' Sam Quinn takes it a step further, predicting that the Heat will trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2026.
No matter which prediction you want to lean into, it's clear that those around the NBA feel that the Heat are inching closer and closer to finally landing a superstar player. This is a team that has been on this path for a while now, but just hasn't been able to close the deal.
The hope is that 2026 is finally the year where the Heat are able to land their next face of the franchise, and there seems to be a growing sentiment among insiders who are beginning to believe it will indeed happen.
When could the Heat make a big move?
If this is going to happen for the Heat, there's reason to believe that it may not occur until the offseason. As great as it would be for Miami to land a star player to help push this team forward in-season, that likelihood is becoming less and less likely.
The recent reporting surrounding Giannis suggests that the Milwaukee Bucks aren't likely to consider trading him until he pushes them to. And insiders are starting to believe that may not happen until the offseason at the earliest.
Miami is reportedly going to wait to see what happens on the Giannis front before making any other big moves. That means if the Heat is going to get their chance to make a splash move for a star, perhaps Giannis, that will not happen until the offseason.
Interestingly enough, the Bucks' waiting to shop Giannis until the summer could in fact help the Heat's chances. Miami will have a full slate of draft picks to trade during the summer, and would only theoretically have two if Giannis pushed for a trade before the trade deadline.
That doesn't mean the Heat wouldn't have a chance to trade for Giannis at the deadline, but it's the fact that Miami's best offers would come a few months down the road.
Either way, if there's one move that the rest of the league may not want, it's the Heat finally getting their hands on another superstar. If Miami were to find a way to trade for Giannis, this would be the first time they'd have one of the three best players in the league since the LeBron James era.
Sure, the Heat have found relevance with Jimmy Butler in recent years, but those teams were still at a disadvantage from an overall roster talent perspective. The Heat adding Giannis is more LeBron in 2010 than it would be acquiring Jimmy in 2019.
Let that sink in.