(Lots to get to today in the mailbag, so mostly your thoughts with some thoughts from here.)
Q: How come the Heat never have enough to get these trades done (Kevin Durant and others)? Is it lack of creativity, too good (not finishing low enough in the standings the last few years) or they just don’t want to give too much away after getting burned when LeBron James left? If draft picks are the new NBA capital for trades, draft picks don’t seem like the Heat’s strength. And there are only so many premiere superstars in the league. Why not go all in for the whale/elite player? – Stuart, Miami.
A: There is no one-size-fits-all in a trade. You offer what you believe is commensurate. The Heat believed their offer was commensurate for a player turning 37.
Q: Second time in three years Miami dodged a hobbled, geriatric bullet – Damian Lillard 2023, Kevin Durant 2025. Pat Riley’s penchant for making the Heat chug Geritol by the gallon is hopefully been moderated by the younger execs around him. The Miami market is tricky – less patient with rebuilding and half-empty arenas can be as expensive as tax-penalty aprons. But they have a good, young, fun core with upside at the ready, (Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic, Davion Mitchell), and good, experienced vets in their prime, (Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins). – Ruben.
A: It all then comes down to the patience with the youth (from the team itself, and from the fan base), as well as whether anything tangible can be mined from Andrew Wiggins.
Q: If the Heat pivot to DeMar DeRozan (mid-range game and old) or Ja Morant (poor judgement on and off court), I am done. The Heat will have proven that they lost their way. That is all. – Jose, Miami.
A: I agree about DeMar DeRozan (unless it is in a tradeoff for the shorter, expiring contract of Terry Rozier), but disagree about Ja Morant (although there is no clear indication he is on the market).
Q: Relieved is the word I’m feeling, never been happier for the Heat to miss out on a star. It was always going to cost young talent in some form or another and the Heat need to keep all they can. Still think the expirings of Terry Rozier and Duncan Robinson could fetch a smaller fish, hopefully someone in the current players timeline, not someone over 30. – John, Ocala.
A: And that’s the thing, if the Heat’s entire offseason was contingent on getting Kevin Durant, then you can look at failure. Last I checked, the offseason actually is only getting started.
Q: Ira, I don’t believe the Heat failed to land Kevin Durant. If you only have $20,000 to buy a 2025 Maserati, well, you’re going home with an Isuzu. The Heat lacked assets and more importantly, draft capital to seriously compete. Glad they did not give up what little elite possible talent we have with Kel’el Ware. The well-documented failures of the past few years have led us to this point. Not re-signing Jimmy Butler hopefully represented a turning point in the realization that unlike the past, today’s NBA requires building through the draft and development and fill-in free agents, rather than building a super team. – Brian, Miami.
A: It is interesting that some thought the Heat got too little for Jimmy Butler and were willing to give up too little for Kevin Durant. Apparently from a Heat perspective there actually can be something such as aging out.
Q: It seems that we want players that we can’t get, and don’t want the players that we can get. The team has irrationally fallen love with its own players and completely overestimates their trade value. While we did acquire Jimmy Butler, there was significant player movement in ensuing years, which resulted in a vast improvement of the acquiring teams. I believe that Pat Riley and current Heat management have lost their nerve. I can recall when we acquired Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway that they were question marks about them. However, it did not prevent us from sending valuable assets to acquire them. At some point, we have to admit the fact that we will not be players for the few stars that we would want to acquire. – Jeffrey, Miami.
A: But isn’t that a loser mentality, as well, not trying for fear of failure? It is better to get into the game, and then assess the game as it plays out. You need to know when to hold ’em, when to fold ’em. And you’ve also got to know when to walk away, know when to run.
Q: No superstar is coming. They just always mention the Heat for leverage because they know the Heat are thirsty and Pat Riley loves to go whale hunting. – Cordo.
A: Disagree. Kevin Durant had the Heat on his three-team wish list. He was interested. The Suns weren’t. Sort of like Damian Lillard and the Blazers. What Pat Riley needs is better Christmas cards.
Q: The Heat seem to be under the impression they can give up the bare minimum and it will be good enough to get a star player. – Troy.
A: Or they draw a line, which is the key to all personnel decisions, including extensions and free-agency spending, as well as trades. What is interesting in this Kevin Durant debate is some think the Heat didn’t give up enough, while others were worried about giving up too much.
Q: Kevin Durant is a heck of a player. But in order for KD to be successful he needs the right type of players around him. He had James Harden and Kyrie Irving and it didn’t work. He had Devin Booker and Bradley Beal and it didn’t work. Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro would have worked. With Jalen Green out of the mix in Houston I don’t see how this works. – Douglas.
A: We’ll never know from a Heat perspective. We’ll see whether it does from a Rockets perspective.
Q: Miami either has to tank to get a lottery pick, or develop the young talent they have. No lottery, so develop. – Ty.
A: Actually, the Heat hold their first-round pick for 2026, so if ever there was going to be a gap year and playing the lottery odds . . . next season could be such an opportunity, in what is setting up as a quality draft.
Q: Been a Heat season-ticket holder for 17 years now and now I must say I’ve had it with this ownership and management. The last three years have been absolutely terrible, no plan, no direction, nothing, absolutely nothing. – Jay.
A: Um, two years ago, the Heat were in the 2023 NBA Finals. So nothing?
Q: For me, summer of ’26 has always been the best way to go. – J-Zone.
A: Which means prudence now going forward, including not taking on any additional 2026-27 salary. But how many qualified potential free agents actually make it to market? (And imagine the irony if Kevin Durant does?)
Q: Not giving up Kel’el Ware was the win. – J.B.
A: Which we’ll know in two or three years (but quite possibly not until then).
Q: They need to rebuild, not tank. – Kelly.
A: Which appears to be the approach, which means not giving up too much youth.
Q: So we’re running it back because of a rookie bro? – Manny.
A: The inability to land Kevin Durant was about more than Kel’el Ware. But, yes, that was part of it.
Q: Houston gave up way too much for an aging, past-his-prime, doesn’t-play-enough star. I’m glad the Heat didn’t get scammed. – Mike.
A: Certainly a variety of viewpoints here.
Q: Who’s our Wal-Mart replacement? – Bryant.
A: Tyus Jones, the next-best-available Sun?
Originally Published: June 23, 2025 at 5:15 AM EDT