6 Celtics and Mavericks players in the NBA Finals with Heat ties

The NBA Finals tip off tonight so let’s take a look at some of the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks with various ties to the Miami Heat.

Drew Peterson, Celtics two-way contract forward: Peterson, a 24-year-old shooter out of USC, spent 2023 summer league and training camp with the Heat and was competing for one of Miami’s three two-way contracts. When those went to Jamal Cain, Cole Swider and RJ Hampton (who was later waived for Alondes Williams), Peterson signed a two-way contract with the Celtics.

Jayson Tatum, Celtics forward: Despite starring for rival teams that have competed for the Eastern Conference crown in three of the last five seasons, Tatum and Bam Adebayo are close friends. “Me and JT have known each other since we were 12,” Adebayo said this postseason. In many ways, the pair of 2017 first-round picks have had parallel careers. Adebayo played in his second Finals last season, now Tatum is playing in his.

Tim Hardaway Jr., Mavericks guard: The son of Heat great Tim Hardaway, Tim Hardaway Jr. was a first-round pick in 2013 and played for the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks before getting traded to the Mavericks in 2019. 

Kyrie Irving, Mavericks guard: While there’s not a direct tie to the Heat, many Heat fans wish there was. Irving had Miami on his preferred list of destinations when he asked to be traded by the Cavaliers in 2017. He was later traded to the Celtics, then signed with the Brooklyn Nets two years later. When the Nets were shopping Irving in 2022, the Heat again did not show interest and assured then-starting point guard Kyle Lowry that he would not be traded for Irving. 

Derrick Jones Jr., Mavericks forward: A success story of Miami’s development pipeline, Jones signed a two-way contract with the Heat in 2017. He played three seasons in Miami, where he blossomed into a high-flying defensive specialist. He then signed a lucrative contract with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2020 and was traded to the Chicago Bulls in 2021. After a couple of underwhelming seasons, Jones signed a minimum contract with Dallas last summer. The Mavericks moved him into the starting lineup in the middle of the season and he’s emerged as one of their most important two-way wings and will be tasked with guarding Tatum and Jaylen Brown in this Finals series.

Markieff Morris, Mavericks forward: Signed by the Heat in 2021, Morris’ time in Miami was cut short after 10 games when Nikola Jokic delivered a crushing blow from behind during a Nov. 8 loss. The incident resulted in bad blood between the Heat and Nuggets, in particular Jokic’s brothers. Morris played just 17 games with the Heat before leaving as a free agent in 2022.