3 Stars the Heat Nearly Traded for That Could Have Brought a Championship…
Jimmy Butler’s arrival in South Florida has been a game-changer for the Miami Heat, leading them to two NBA Finals and almost a third within five years.
Despite being underdogs, reaching the Finals as a fifth and eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Heat fell short of the ultimate prize. These thrilling playoff runs are cherished by fans, but the lack of a championship stings.
Over the years, numerous star players have been linked to the Heat in trade rumors. The team has been just one key player away from securing a title.
Due to salary cap restrictions, Miami’s front office has focused on internal development and maintaining the health of their core roster, hoping to finally win it all. However, with Butler nearing his 35th birthday, time is running out.
That said, it’s not like Pat Riley and his team haven’t explored outside options to bolster the roster. Here are three players who were rumored to join the Heat and could have been the missing piece for a championship.
Donovan Mitchell
In both 2022 and 2024, Donovan Mitchell, now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, was linked to the Heat. The most realistic opportunity came in 2022 when Mitchell sought a new team after his time with the Utah Jazz. Fans were excited about the potential pairing of Mitchell and Bam Adebayo, especially after seeing them train together during the offseason.
Despite mutual interest, Mitchell ended up in Cleveland. In 2024, there was speculation he might leave Cleveland if he didn’t sign an extension, with Miami as a potential landing spot. However, Mitchell ultimately secured a lucrative contract with the Cavaliers, ending that possibility.
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant would have been a massive addition to the Heat, complementing Butler and Adebayo perfectly. As a two-time NBA champion and former MVP, Durant’s offensive skills and defensive length would have made him an ideal fit. Miami had a chance to acquire him in 2022 after he requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets.
However, the Heat didn’t show enough aggressiveness in pursuing the deal, and Brooklyn wasn’t eager to let Durant go. Eventually, Durant was traded to the Phoenix Suns at the following trade deadline, with Miami notably absent from the discussions.
Damian Lillard
The most painful missed opportunity for Heat fans was Damian Lillard, who requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers just last summer. After yet another Finals appearance, Miami seemed in prime position to acquire the star point guard, who explicitly wanted to join the Heat.
Lillard’s scoring ability would have been a perfect addition to a team lacking depth at point guard, and his close relationship with Adebayo only added to the anticipation. However, the trade talks never gained traction, and Lillard was ultimately traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal, leaving Miami empty-handed.
