The Miami Heat are back in the NBA Finals with their best roster since LeBron James left South Beach to return to Cleveland.
In a twist of fate, it’s James and the Los Angeles Lakers whom the Heat will face in the Finals to crown an NBA champion. Miami, led by Jimmy Butler in his first year with the Heat, surprised many by outlasting the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics in the NBA’s bubble in Orlando.
Butler, Erik Spoelstra, and company are certainly on a mission in the tournament, and their upcoming clash with James, Anthony Davis. and the Lakers figures to be must-see-TV.
But with that being said, it’s never too soon to look toward the future and find ways the Heat may look to tweak their roster. The outcome of the Finals could impact Miami’s thinking heading into the upcoming offseason, but from a purely financial standpoint, the Heat appear well-positioned for the future.
As things currently stand, if the stars align in their favor, the Heat would have the ability to fit in a max salary slot for current Bucks star and 2020 MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Pairing Butler with Antetokounmpo could be an irresistible duo for Pat Riley. But even if Antetokounmpo opts to stay in Milwaukee long-term, or takes his talents somewhere other than South Beach, Miami will stay have avenues to tweak their roster.
Here are three players the Heat could consider acquiring this offseason.
