The Miami Heat have built a lineup that has a chance to compete in a depleted Eastern Conference. The addition of Norman Powell has given the Heat a sharpshooting wing to pair with All-Stars Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, as well as promising center Kel'el Ware.
As the Heat search for the missing piece to push the team over the top, a polarizing sign-and-trade option must be seriously considered: Jonathan Kuminga.
Kuminga is in the midst of a dizzying residence in restricted free agency. He's been linked to several teams, but thus far, neither outside suitors nor the Golden State Warriors have met the 22-year-old's asking price.
As the Heat evaluate their roster and the holes that remain in it, one can't help but feel as though making a run at Kuminga would be wise.
Miami has built a balanced rotation, including the refreshing two-way play of Davion Mitchell, the experience of Andrew Wiggins, and the untapped potential of Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, and Nikola Jovic. Perhaps those players will succeed in addressing the issues that remain.
What Kuminga offers the Heat, however, is a clear path to adding the slashing scorer who can address one of the team's last remaining offensive needs.
Jonathan Kuminga can check one final box for the Miami Heat
Kuminga is an undoubtedly polarizing player. He's an undeniably explosive scorer, but his career mark of 33.2 percent from beyond the arc, as well as the 24.3 minutes per game that he played in 2024-25, have painted the picture of a player who lacks the ideal skill set to fit into a winning team's rotation.
Kuminga is still just 22 years of age, however, and his potential as a scorer has translated to the court in both regular season and postseason settings.
Over the past two seasons, Kuminga has posted averages of 15.8 points per game and 22.2 points per 36 minutes. He also averaged 15.3 points per contest on .484/.400/.710 shooting during the 2025 NBA Playoffs, posting 18 points in each of the Golden State Warriors' final three outings.
Herro is one of the most efficient scorers off of drives in the NBA, but Kuminga's sustained scoring success proves he can offer the necessary depth in that phase of the game in Miami.
Three of the Heat's top four players in drives per game in 2024-25 played 30 or fewer games with the team: Jimmy Butler, Davion Mitchell, and Andrew Wiggins. Mitchell and Wiggins will return, with the latter likely to carry the burden of driving from the wings.
Kuminga is a younger alternative to Wiggins, however, with a potential salary range that could be fit into Miami's budget on a short-term deal in a sign-and-trade that centers around Terry Rozier.
With Kuminga slotted into the starting lineup, the Heat could move forward with promising young pieces at all five positions. Adebayo would be the only starter older than 25, which offers remarkable perspective into how unique this opportunity is for Miami to move forward with a productive young core.
The risk must be acknowledged in any potential trade for Kuminga, but the upside is just as intriguing for arguably the best remaining free agent.