Over the last decade, the Miami Heat has emerged as one of the best reclamation organizations. They've helped rebuild reputations, helped players reach new heights, and even uncovered some hidden gems in the last decade. Heading into the offseason, they may have their next reclamation project already in their sights. If the recent reporting is any indication, Jonathan Kuminga could be the team's next target.
Kuminga has been vaguely linked to the Heat before, but The Athletic's Anthony Slater makes it quite clear in his latest detailed reporting - the Heat's interest in Kuminga is "legitimate." Miami would have to work a sign-and-trade with the Golden State Warriors to acquire him in free agency, but there's certainly a path toward this scenario playing out.
The Heat may not need to completely rebuild Kuminga's reputation, but he's certainly a player who still hasn't reached his ceiling as a prospect. With one of the league's best developmental systems, the Heat could see Kuminga as an opportunity to help a budding star talent blossom to the next level.
Can the Heat make Jonathan Kuminga a star?
Let's be completely honest, if this is a path the Heat took this summer, the fan base would be extremely disappointed. And it'd be hard to blame them. If the Heat's huge prize of 2025 ended up being Kuminga, and perhaps when his value is at a low, the front office would have a lot of explaining to do. Going for KD to Kuminga would be quite the pivot for the whale-hunting Riley.
If they were to pursue a move, though, it's the idea that Miami believes they could help Kuminga make that final leap to stardom. That's not something the Heat would be able to prove immediately, but there's a chance that Miami could be proven right over time.
Ultimately, that's what this potential move comes down to. If it's true that the Heat does have a legitimate interest in Kuminga, it does mean that they do see something in him that suggests he could potentially be a star player.
If Miami is under the impression that Kuminga was held back in Golden State, or wasn't put in the best position to succeed, he could emerge as a steal for Miami. Sure, the contract will absolutely complicate things for the Heat and would add another layer of risk to the move, but at some point, the front office is going to have to make a gamble.
Maybe that gamble does end up being Kuminga. Maybe it doesn't. Either way, it appears the Heat has real interest in the young wing. How that will factor into the offseason remains to be seen, but how they operate on draft night could tell us a lot about what may lie ahead for the Heat in the coming weeks.