Not only are Miami Heat fans hoping for an offseason of change, but one of the most prominent NBA analysts is expecting it.
The Ringer’s Zach Lowe said on his podcast that he expects the Heat to be involved in conversations to acquire a star this summer after a disappointing end to the season.
The Heat were swept out of the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers, losing four games by a historic margin. Coach Erik Spoelstra and the players admitted that they are far from their standard of winning.
“I’m extremely motivated to get our organization and our basketball team to a higher level,” Spoelstra said during his end-of-season media session. “The play-in is obviously not where we want to be.”
"A big offseason" for the Heat.
Lowe agreed, remarking on his podcast this week that when Miami is this “far from the bar,” they tend to get aggressive and make moves to reshape the roster.
“I’m expecting a big offseason for them,” Lowe said. “I don’t know what form that is going to take. I think they’ll try to butt in to any star trade conversations that come up.”
The Heat have three tradeable first-round picks (including the 20th pick in June’s draft, which they would have to trade on or after draft night) and $65 million in expiring salary that they can include in a trade this summer.
Is that enough to get in the mix for someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo? Probably not, since there are other teams that can offer much more in the form of draft capital and promising, young players.
But the Heat are expected to rengage the Phoenix Suns in talks about Kevin Durant. The Heat and Suns discussed a Durant trade prior to February’s deadline but nothing materialized. They can revisit those discussions this summer.
It seems clear that Durant will be playing elsewhere next season, and the Heat are in need of a major offensive talent upgrade after finishing the season with a bottom-10 offense and struggling to score with the Cavaliers in the first round.
Players are expecting changes, too. Bam Adebayo, when asked about potential changes this summer, said he expects Riley to make “a lot of changes.”
“He knows how much I want to win,” Adebayo said. “We want to be in the best way possible to do that. After he talks to you, he will probably talk to me, and we will figure out what happens.”