How the Miami Heat should operate at trade deadline is quite clear - Hot Hot Hoops

The Miami Heat are currently 20-17 through 37 games. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

We are nearing the halfway point of the 2025-26 NBA regular season. The Miami Heat are currently 20-17 and tied with the Orlando Magic for the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference.

They are 2.5 games ahead of the Chicago Bulls and just two games behind the 4-seeded Toronto Raptors. It’s a relatively tight bunch.

We are also nearly one month into the league’s unofficial start of the trade season, which began on Dec. 15, when more than 80 recently signed players (including Heat guard Dru Smith) became eligible to be traded.

As we approach the Feb. 5 trade deadline, the Heat are at a crossroads. They’ve been linked to Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo since it was reported that his camp was talking with Milwaukee, though neither side appears to be pushing for a trade.

Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey boldly predicts, however, that Miami will still acquire the two-time MVP ahead of the deadline.

“The Miami Heat have been in the star business for about as long as Pat Riley’s been with the organization,” Bailey wrote. “And right now, with apologies to Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, they don’t really have the kind of perennial All-NBA threat they typically do. At least not yet.

“The Milwaukee Bucks have started playing better since Giannis returned to the lineup from injury, but if he ever makes the firm trade request, Miami feels like one of those locations that could make a ‘list.’”

The Miami Heat’s trade deadline plans should be quite clear:

Miami Heat (Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

At 20-17, the Heat currently possesses the 17th-best offense and 3rd-best defense. They have played the sixth-toughest schedule with the fourth-easiest strength of schedule remaining, according to Tankathon.

On paper, that’s good news for Miami. It has struggled to consistently beat good teams, going 7-15 against teams with a .500 record or better — compared to 13-2 against teams below .500. That’s been an ongoing trend the past three seasons, despite a stronger cast of young talent in a brand-new offense.

As the deadline approaches, the Heat will have to have some tough conversations. Their plan shouldn’t be any clearer: Either go all-in for Antetokounmpo, or begin accumulating assets for when he — or another franchise-altering talent — does.

Unfortunately for Heat fans, the tea leaves suggest Antetokounmpo won’t be traded in-season. The nine-time All-Star will, inevitably, have a bigger market plus will become extension eligible. Should he decline it, the floodgates will open for a potential trade.

Until then, an in-season trade — barring a swift change — feels like wishful thinking.

Miami doesn’t have a lofty treasure chest of assets not named Kel’el Ware. They have talent, but so does the rest of the NBA.

Jaime Jaquez Jr., who is extension-eligibile this summer, has popped; Nikola Jovic has played better of late; Kasparas Jakucionis is an intriguing rookie, but is still very raw as a ballhandler, shot-maker and defender. Miami has just two tradable firsts and one second-round pick — including none of their own.

For the last four seasons, the Heat have been stuck in the middle. Despite growth from Jaquez, Ware and the emergence of first-year Heat guard Norman Powell, they largely see themselves in the same position: Fighting to avoid the play-in.

If they want any shot at landing Antetokounmpo, they’d better start accumulating ammo. Powell is waltzing himself into sell-high territory for Miami; he’s having a career year, is on an expiring and will be pushing his mid-30s beyond 2025-26. Andrew Wiggins has one more year left on his contract (player option).

Miami has Simone Fontecchio’s expiring, Davion Mitchell’s team-friendly deal and Smith’s inexpensive contract to also play with, should it choose.

Ultimately, the Heat have put themselves in a position where the margin for error is thin due to their asset pool — or lack thereof. They’re ripe for a consolidation trade, but they also need to re-stock their treasure chest if whale-hunting is attainable.

Personally, I doubt the Heat will do either. They don’t believe in selling — but they should. This hamster wheel of mediocrity will keep turning if they don’t — prolonging the inevitable.

How the Miami Heat should operate at trade deadline is quite clear – Hot Hot Hoops

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