From Kevin Durant to Damian Lillard, the Miami Heat have spent the last two years trying to trade for a star to partner alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. But what if the Heat were to pivot and scan the league for a high-end role player who can help maximize their window now?
Here are six win-now trade targets that could help the Heat this season.
1. Bojan Bogdanovic
Bojan Bogdanovic only recently made his season debut for the Detroit Pistons after missing the first 18 games with a calf strain, but the 34-year-old picked up where he left off last season, scoring 22 points on 7 of 15 shooting (including 3 for 10 on 3-pointers). Bogdanovic, who at 6-foot-7 can play both forward positions, is a 20-point-per-game scorer who can space the floor and elevate any offense. He’d be a helpful addition to any contender, and would be a plug-and-play option for a Heat team in need of his score-first skillset.
Trading for Bogdanovic would provide an instant boost without sacrificing roster flexibility. Bogdanovic is essentially playing on an expiring, $20 million contract, since next season’s $19 million salary is only guaranteed for $2 million. Compared to expensive trade options such as Zach LaVine and Bradley Beal, the Heat could get a proven scorer at a fraction of the cost.
If the Heat are willing to part with a future first-round pick (2028 or 2030), a deal that sends Kyle Lowry’s expiring $29.6 million salary and a pick to Detriot for Bogdanovic and point guard Monte Morris works under salary cap rules.