The Miami Heat were heavily criticized throughout the offseason for their inadequate roster construction efforts. Miami does not appear to be a threat in the East, having made no meaningful moves thus far.
Pat Riley made it plain that the team would not be “running it back” this season, implying that the roster would change.
The Heat had big aspirations for the offseason, including signing a star player to establish a new Big Three. In this sense, the Heat have expressed an interest in acquiring several major names, including Zion Williamson and Kevin Durant.
Unfortunately, none of these transactions materialized. Instead, all the franchise has seen this offseason is Duncan Robinson’s exit and the addition of Simone Fontecchio.
With excellent players like Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro leading the way, the Heat need to add more talent, particularly in their undersized frontcourt. In order to keep them competitive, we propose a deal that allows Miami to strengthen its power forward position while dumping an underperforming asset.
Proposed Trade Details:
Miami Heat Receives: John Collins
The Utah Jazz receive Terry Rozier, a 2027 second-round pick (OKC/NYK/SAS trade), and a 2031 second-round pick (UTA swap).
The trade doesn’t tip the needle for either team, but it offers Miami something to work upon.
With the goal of being a more competitive club next season, the arrival of John Collins could help the team move forward.
The Heat Bolster With the addition of John Collins, the Miami Heat’s starting lineup will undergo significant adjustments. While the backcourt would be mostly similar, the frontcourt would see a significant increase in quality.
The Los Angeles Lakers have shown a lot of interest in Heat forward Andrew Wiggins in trade speculations this offseason. However, if the Heat decide to keep him, he would start as a small forward with Collins and Adebayo to round out the frontcourt three.
Collins provides a lot of length to the Heat team. While his defensive abilities are limited, the forward’s offensive skill and mobility make him a valuable asset.
Last season, the Jazz big man averaged 19.0 points and 8.2 rebounds, shooting 52.7% from the field and 39.9% from three.
Collins is a dependable perimeter player who can also play well in the post. His athleticism also allows him to be a strong rim runner and lob threat, which is advantageous when coupled with Bam Adebayo.
At 6’9″, he may not meet the team’s size requirements, but he does provide a lot of versatility in terms of rotations.
With youthful centers Kel’el Ware and Vladislav Goldin on the bench, the Heat might have a pretty consistent big man rotation next season.
The Heat also benefits from the transaction because Collins’ contract is about to expire. With nearly $27 million coming off the books next season when the forward hits free agency, Miami may open up cap room to pursue a superstar.
The Jazz acquires Rozier with picks.
This transaction has far less value for the Utah Jazz than it does for the Heat, but it does help their ongoing reconstruction. Terry Rozier joins the Jazz as a seasoned point guard with an expiring deal.
The addition of Rozier comes at an important time, as Jordan Clarkson completes his buyout to join the New York Knicks. Although Rozier cannot equal Clarkson’s scoring production, he would make an excellent scoring option off the bench.
Last season, the veteran guard averaged 10.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. These figures marked a significant drop from his performance with the Charlotte Hornets last season, when he averaged 23.2 points and 6.6 assists per game before joining the Heat.
While this could be due to Rozier playing fewer minutes, he also received criticism for his betting incident. The outcome was diminished productivity, which surely impacted his stock.
Despite this, the guard has sparked interest from teams on the trade market. However, in order to sweeten the deal with the Jazz, the Heat would have to offer some selection compensation. As a result, Miami trades the 2027 and 2031 second-round picks to Utah, with the Jazz receiving the 2031 firstly.
Are the Miami Heat contenders in the East?
The Miami Heat are at a difficult point in the offseason. Following their postseason disappointments, it was widely believed that the squad would aggressively strengthen its roster. That has not been the case.
While the Heat still have several good players on their roster, they are far from being considered contenders, especially in a notably weakened Eastern Conference.
Although the team drafted well, there is a lot of work to be done if the organization wants to remain competitive. With a full offseason ahead of them, the Heat have plenty of time to make the necessary changes to create a more cohesive lineup.
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