The Heat's best, and worst, case scenarios ahead of trade deadline - Hot Hot Hoops

Miami Heat Trade Deadline The clock is ticking for the Miami Heat, and the rest of the NBA, as the trade deadline approaches. (Mandatory Credit: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

The clock is ticking. There are less than five days until the 2025-26 NBA Trade Deadline, where the Miami Heat are expected to be involved, especially if Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo gets dealt.

What would be a couple of their best — and worst — case scenarios?! Let’s examine!

Best Case: Heat acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo

Skinny: This is the most obvious one.

The Heat’s name has been linked to Antetokounmpo as much as any other name ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline.

While the Heat are 26-23 and fighting for play-in positioning in the East, they would acquire a top-3 player in the NBA, when healthy, who’s still in the thick of his prime. Antetokounmpo is a franchise-altering talent. You figure everything else out later once you acquire him.

Most importantly, I would trust the Heat’s ability to field a roster compared to, say, Golden State or Milwaukee themselves.

Best case pt. 2: Heat rebuild asset treasure chest

Skinny: If you don’t acquire Antetokounmpo, you need a plan B. And the Heat’s Plan B should be relatively straightforward: If you miss on the whale, pivot and begin selling assets.

That includes Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell, Simone Fontecchio, etc. Acquire as much draft capital as you can, lean into your young talent and begin building for the future, especially if you don’t plan on paying any of those names long-term.

You could add Tyler Herro into that mix, although his value has likely sunk due to his injury history. But if you don’t plan on rewarding him with an extension, move him as well.

Worst Case: Heat stand pat

Skinny: The worst thing the Heat can do is nothing.

As we highlighted here, Miami is ripe for a consolidation trade. That’s been the case for at least three years. You cannot keep the same clutter of talent — especially with Powell and Fontecchio as expirings — without doing anything to restock your asset chamber.

That’s how mediocre and directionless organizations maintain that same status quo. And that’s the last thing they should want.

Worst case pt. 2: Heat burn first-round capital for minor short-term gain

Skinny: I think this is the least likely scenario. But the Heat have only two tradable first-round picks — in 2030 and 2032.

Miami doesn’t want to jeopardize its chances at landing Antetokounmpo, or another star talent that becomes available. However, with their practically nonexistent second-round pick capital, Miami doesn’t have a lot of margin for error as to the picks it can send out.

Any move that has marginal short-term improvement for a first-round pick should be off the table. You can’t risk forgoing more first-round capital as they did in the Terry Rozier trade. That would be organizational malpractice and set them further back than they already are.

The Heat’s best, and worst, case scenarios ahead of trade deadline – Hot Hot Hoops

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