The Miami Heat may have missed embarrassingly on another star player, but what if that was their plan all along? Because right now, despite the shame and backlash they may be facing, the Heat are perfectly positioned to be one of the most desired destinations for free agents or disgruntled stars during the summer of 2026.
It may not be the financial gymnastics that the Heat pulled to prepare themselves for the summer of 2010, when they famously landed LeBron James and Chris Bosh, in addition to re-signing Dwyane Wade in what will likely be remembered as the most successful offseasons in NBA history, but it's certainly close.
The only two players that are guaranteed to be on the roster after this season are Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. Kyle Anderson has a partially guaranteed contract for 2026-27, Kel'el Ware has a team option, and Andrew Wiggins has a player option. Davion Mitchell and Nikola Jovic will probably be signed to extensions this summer, but nothing is a certainty just yet.
But even if they are, it'd be surprising if either of those moves were particularly bank-breaking.
The Heat may have been eyeing the summer of 2026 all along
There's a scenario in which the Heat has pretty clear books after this season. Depending on what other moves they make, perhaps to tear down their roster even more, the Heat are looking more and more like a team that will be operating with a clean slate during the summer of 2026.
Sure, the Heat's public relations team is having to work overtime after missing out on KD, but not all hope is lost. If the Heat is willing to embrace a "gap year" of sorts this season, there could be a clear way out of mediocrity for the franchise. In some respects, missing out on KD could've been a blessing in disguise for the Heat.
There's no question the Heat's patience will be tested, though. Especially for Pat Riley, who is 80 years old, it will be difficult for him to essentially throw away a full year in hopes of a big move in 2026. Can he be patient enough? Can this front office as a whole show the right level of self-control?
I understand the skepticism that will come with this "plan" that the front office may have mapped out for the summer of 2026, especially for a fan base that has clung to similar blueprints in the past, only to see them bested by the likes of Joe Cronin (Portland, in their pursuits of Damian Lillard) and Koby Altman (Cleveland, in their pursuits of Donovan Mitchell).
However, the summer of 2026 could be different. The Heat will have no excuses. They'll have capable cap space and a flurry of draft assets they could offer via trade, including enticing young assets that won't be considered to have negative value.
It's understandable for the fan base to be depressed after the KD fiasco, but the light at the end of the tunnel is near. If the Heat play their cards right this offseason, the summer of 2026 could be everything this fan base has been hoping for.