The Miami Heat are anticipated to be active during the upcoming offseason. Following the midseason departure of Jimmy Butler, Miami’s roster is in need of new talent.
Recently, the team has been linked with blockbuster moves for superstars like Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, both players would likely require hefty trade packages, pushing the Heat to consider more realistic alternatives.
In a recent mock trade by Sports Illustrated’s Sean Jordan, Miami is projected to acquire veteran All-Star forward DeMar DeRozan to bolster their offense. The proposed deal is:
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Miami Receives: DeMar DeRozan, Terence Davis
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Sacramento Receives: Duncan Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson, and a 2028 first-round pick
“Despite his age, DeRozan is still performing at a high level,” Jordan noted. “He’s set to earn over $24 million over the next two seasons, which is relatively affordable for a former All-Star. Miami would be wise to consider moving on from Robinson, whose $19 million salary is significant for a player who only saw 15 minutes per game in the playoffs.”
DeRozan joined the Sacramento Kings last season, but a rocky year may make the franchise open to trading him—if the right offer comes along.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported that the Heat have genuine interest in acquiring DeRozan, viewing him as a more realistic target compared to bigger names like Durant or Giannis.
“It’s doubtful that Duncan Robinson, Terry Rozier, and Andrew Wiggins will all still be in Miami by the start of next season,” Siegel said. “DeRozan continues to be seen as a viable option for Pat Riley and the Heat.”
DeRozan played 77 games last season and averaged 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. A deal wouldn’t likely involve Miami’s core players like Tyler Herro or Bam Adebayo, which would leave coach Erik Spoelstra with a strong foundation of three high-level contributors.
While trading for DeRozan seems both practical and feasible, the Heat may face difficulties trying to land bigger-name stars. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin recently commented that Miami—and other high-profile franchises like the Lakers and Knicks—lack the assets needed for major trades.
“Don’t buy into the hype around the Heat, Lakers, or Knicks landing top-tier players,” McMenamin said on The Rich Eisen Show. “They just don’t have the trade capital or flexibility to pull off those kinds of deals.”
Given that, a pursuit of DeRozan appears increasingly reasonable. Though he may not be a franchise-altering superstar, he is a proven, consistent scorer who could be instrumental in a playoff push.
Still, since DeRozan remains under contract with Sacramento, the next step hinges on whether the Kings opt to reshuffle their roster. If they do, Miami may be ready to strike.
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