The Miami Heat fans should be circling the summer of 2027 in their calendars. With the way the franchise has operated this offseason, and with how many project how next offseason may unravel, it's becoming crystal clear that the next great opportunity for the Heat to land a superstar is going to come in 2027, and not 2026.
In many ways, that could - and probably should - be viewed as the Heat's next ideal timeline to land a star player.
Sure, the Heat will keep their options open over the next 12 months and be ready to pounce if a star player does become available. However, as NBA scribe Tim Bontemps lays it out, there's a chance that multiple stars could become available in 2027. And it's probably the safer play for Miami to retain flexibility all the way up to that summer.
The summer of 2027
After Luka Doncic and De'Aaron Fox recently signed contract extensions with the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings, respectively, the free-agency class of 2026 has suddenly looked as shallow as it ever has.
That's part of what makes it so much more likely for the Heat to carry their financial flexibility heading into the summer of 2027. The Tyler Herro contract extension decision won't make that any easier, but it's theoretically in the best interest of the Heat to maintain flexibility until 2027.
Because even if a couple of stars hit the open market, the Heat are going to wish they had that money to spend.
Again, there's no guarantee every one of these players will hit free agency in 2027; in fact, recent history tells us that would be quite surprising. However, the projected class is pretty insane.
Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns, Paul George, Donovan Mitchell, Kawhi Leonard, Zach LaVine, Trae Young, Kyrie Irving, Brandon Ingram, James Harden, and Jalen Green are some of the bigger names that could hit free agency that year.
In addition to this strong group, there are numerous other valuable contributors who could be preparing to hit free agency in 2027 as well.
Can the Heat navigate the waters responsibly?
There's a clear opportunity awaiting the Heat in 2027 to make a big splash. The biggest question revolves around whether the Heat will be able to responsibly navigate the waters properly over the next two years.
That's far from a foregone conclusion. Can the Heat avoid making a rash move that will only marginally help them, greatly limiting their financial flexibility heading into the future?
If Miami can do that, the opportunity to cash in for a star in 2027 may be available. Especially with how this summer has gone, that has to be the new plan for the Heat's front office moving forward. If that wasn't clear before, it should be now.