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After a forgettable campaign, the Miami Heat will be frequently mentioned in NBA trade rumors during the offseason as they look to keep pace with the Eastern Conference's top three sides. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are the team's two biggest stars, but to reach another NBA Finals, they may need to add a third All-Star caliber player.
In this article, we will identify three of the organization's assets that could be moved in order to help bolster their roster and make them competitive at the top again.
Three Miami Heat players that could be on the move this summer
The Miami Heat squad's performance in this year's postseason was a far cry from their impressive run to the Finals in the 2020 playoffs. Coach Spoelstra's side were swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. However, it is not all doom and gloom for fans of the three-time champions. If the cap space projection of $112m holds, the Heat could have as much as $20m or more to use in the market.
While they don't have a draft pick this year, they do have a number of future selections that could be bundled together in a trade package. Furthermore, they have several assets they could move to create room for a big name player.
All of this equates to it being a busy offseason for the Miami Heat front office.
#3 Goran Dragic
Despite his hefty contract, Goran Dragic could be an enticing asset for the Miami Heat to include in any potential trade scenario. The 35-year-old still has a lot to give as either a starting or backup point guard. He averaged 13.4 points and 4.4 assists in 26 minutes per game during the 2020-21 campaign and was influential in the Heat's playoff run last year where he put up 19 points a night.
Dragic has been an excellent player for the Miami Heat, however, using him to match salaries in a big trade might be more useful to the team in the long-run.
By picking up their team option, the Heat would be able to utilize the Slovenian's worth in the market to tempt another franchise who are looking to improve their guard depth in the short-term without having to commit to a lengthy contract. The likes of the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets could benefit from an upgrade at point guard.
#2 Kendrick Nunn
Kendrick Nunn is expected to garner a lot of interest in the NBA offseason as he becomes a restricted free agent. He is also set for a huge pay-day, potentially $10m more per year than his current salary. That could make it difficult for the Miami Heat to match any offer that is put on the table for the point guard. Particularly if they want to bring in a similar player, such as Kyle Lowry.
However, they could utilize Nunn as a sign-and-trade piece. His point scoring and efficiency when on the floor will continue to increase should he move to a franchise where he is a consistent starter and shot-taker. While age is on his side compared with other backcourt options available this summer, the Miami Heat are in a win-now window and could look to bring in some championship experience instead of hoping Nunn can step up.
#1 Tyler Herro
21-year-old Tyler Herro has been involved in countless NBA rumors already this summer and is the Miami Heat's most valuable trade chip.
After his impressive rookie campaign and performances in last year's playoffs, the Heat were so confident in what his future could hold that they refused to trade him for the Houston Rockets' James Harden. Now, however, if the franchise wants to bring in the kind of elite talent that Harden is, they may have to part ways with the young sharpshooter.
Despite criticism, Herro continued to impress down in South Beach, averaging 15 points and five rebounds while shooting at 36% from beyond the arc. However, worries from the franchise about his off-the-court antics have been exposed this season, which only adds to the likelihood he could be a key asset in their pursuits of an All-Star to pair with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
Herro's contract is still small, which doesn't help the Miami Heat in matching salaries, but they do have draft capital to offer on top and other players who could help with this process.
Guess the Lakers players!
