*Disclaimer: Portland is only giving up swap rights in '28, and most favorable part of pick in '29. They still have least favorable of the '29 first between Milwaukee, Portland, and Boston. They aren't giving up nearly as much as it looks, and they are saving $13.7 mill to get a good player in free agency.
This offseason for Miami is quite simple right now. Get Giannis, figure everything else out later. In this example, Miami mortgages the house to get Giannis. Key #1 is to get Giannis by any means necessary. Key #2 is to avoid the 1st apron while doing so, which will be difficult. Miami gets: Giannis, KPJ, Gary Trent Bucks get: Jerami Grant, Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakiuciunis, 2 own picks back from Blazers, #13, '29, '31 1sts from Miami. Blazers get: Bobby Portis, Jaime Jaquez, $13.7 million in cap savings.
For Miami, this trades a ton for Giannis. However, you still have your '32, and '33 1sts to use in the future to get another helping piece, and you also get KPJ, who could be a good backup scoring option for Miami on a cheap deal. The value is gonna be high for Giannis, as a potential three team deal including Jaylen brown and the Blazers is also looming. This makes it essential to go all in right now for him, as you obviously don't want to give up all these young guys. However, it is a must, as Miami is looking to go all in now.
Trade #2 Get that gross Jovic contract out of here Heat Get: Ziaire Williams, save $9.9 million Nets get: Jovic, '27 2nd, '33 2nd This trade is simple. To avoid the 2nd apron, trading Jovic is a huge necessity.
Draft
41: Baba Miller
Baba Miller is a project, young forward/center with high upside. Baba is super athletic, and can score. However, he is very raw, and is super skinny. He will need to build a stronger frame, and better jumpsuit, as well as better rim protection. He will have two great mentors in Giannis, who when he cam out of the draft was similar to Baba, and Bam Adebayo.
Free Agency
Resign Norman Powell (3/63), and Simone Fontecchio (2/12) Norman Powell is a key part to this team as a consistent scorer off the catch, but also a good off the dribble scorer as well. Having Giannis will help Norman focus on the defensive end more, and is a perfect fit next to Giannis as a catch and shoot scorer. Simone Fontecchio is a solid 3&D contributor, who makes smart plays but is limited athletically. Getting as much shooting onto this team is essential next to Antetokounmpo and Bam. Sign Jock Landale 1/4.5 Jock Landale is a super underrated big man, who had a great season last year, before getting injured and missing the last 2 months of the season, and playoffs for Atlanta. Super capable 3 point shooter, shooting 38% from three, and averaging 10.6 PPG, and 5.7 RPG.
Starters PG: Davion Mitchell SG: Norman Powell SF: Andrew Wiggins PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo C: Bam Adebayo Bench: Kevin Porter Jr, Gary Trent Jr, Pelle Larsson, Simone Fontecchio, Jock Landale, Ziaire Williams, Dru Smith, Myron Gardner, Baba Miller, (1 open roster spot)
Salary Cap: $3,669,403 million away from the 1st Apron, Over the Luxury Tax line.
The mission of the offseason was to make the big splash, getting Giannis in the red and black. However, the roster around Giannis is arguably limited, as there isn't a super reliable scorer other than Giannis. However, Powell, and Bam can get you 20-25 on any given night, and the team identity for Miami is defense. A front line of Giannis and Bam is scary defensively for the rest of the league. Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins are great defenders in their own right, and this team would likely be a top defense in the sport. The concerns are bench depth, and scoring, but even if they can be an average offense and shooting team, this Miami team has the ceiling of a top 3 seed in the east when healthy. The question marks are there, and this is likely a multi year operation to get the perfect team around Giannis, but I believe I built a very capable team around him to start without heading over any of the apron lines.
What would you guys change? Is there someone else the Heat should target via free agency or trade? Please lmk in the comments. Thank y'all for reading!