The Miami Heat have officially moved on from one of the most disastrous chapters in franchise history. Jimmy Butler is finally out of Miami and the Heat are thus preparing to rebuild on the fly, maintaining a high level of play on both ends of the floor.
It may not be the most star-studded move imaginable, but Miami has pulled off a late-season trade that could yield respectable results.
The Heat received a package of Kyle Anderson, PJ Tucker, Andrew Wiggins, and a 2025 first-round draft pick with top-10 protection for Butler. It didn't take long for Miami to parlay that trade into a second move for a quality young player.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Heat have acquired Davion Mitchell from the Toronto Raptors for the cost of just Tucker and a second-round pick.
The Toronto Raptors are trading Davion Mitchell to the Miami Heat for PJ Tucker, a second-round pick and cash, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/J9vBISwuh4
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
The Heat may not be quite as star-studded as they were with Butler, but they've added intriguing depth to the rotation with a potential Gabe Vincent replacement.
Davion Mitchell could be the latest Erik Spoelstra success story
Vincent became a fan favorite during his tenure with the team, due in no small part to his heroics during the Heat's run to the 2023 NBA Finals. He produced five 20-point games during the 2023 postseason, including a stretch of three consecutive outings with 20-plus.
Vincent also solidified himself as one of the Heat's best guard defenders, thus providing immense value off the bench.
Mitchell could help recreate that form and value in the latter regard. He's widely regarded as one of the best defensive perimeter players in the NBA, and he's continued to keep opponents in check in 2024-25 despite playing for a struggling team in the Toronto Raptors.
In Miami, Mitchell should fit perfectly under Erik Spoelstra due to his defensive capabilities and unquestioned motor on that end of the floor.
Offensively, Mitchell has quietly emerged as a respectable playmaker. Thus far in 2024-25, he's producing averages of 9.3 points, 6.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 1.4 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes on .434/.359/.676 shooting.
A competent floor-spacer who's willing and able to create for others, Mitchell has untapped potential and perhaps more offensive value than some have perceived.
The optimistic take is that Mitchell can fill the void that Vincent left behind when he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023. The fact that Miami gave up a second-round draft pick to acquire him certainly implies that there's a desire to find a place for him in the rotation.
Compounded by the fact that he's 26 years of age and has untapped potential, Mitchell could be a sneakily solid acquisition for the Heat.