The Miami Heat, coming off an unexpected trip to the NBA Finals in June, likely thought they were going to get a huge shot in the arm when Damian Lillard asked the Portland Trail Blazers to trade him over the summer. He named the Heat as the one team he wanted to be sent to, and many seemed to expect he would end up there.
But the Milwaukee Bucks ended up winning the Lillard sweepstakes, and to add insult to injury, Jrue Holiday, the main piece they gave up to get him, was traded to the Boston Celtics just days later.
With the Bucks and Celtics, Miami’s two main Eastern Conference rivals, getting even richer, Miami must’ve felt like it had gotten punched in the gut twice. The team is just 3-4 to start the new season, and as it did last season, it is having trouble scoring — it is 26th in points per game and offensive rating.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
One must expect team president Pat Riley to do whatever it takes to put the Heat over the top. With speculation that Donovan Mitchell may leave the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2025, Fran Leiva of Fadeaway World suggests the Heat make a play for Mitchell right now, in exchange for Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2029 swap pick, and a 2024 second-round pick.
“… Mitchell’s potential move to the Miami Heat, in exchange for Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, and future draft picks, stands as a pivotal narrative in the evolving landscape of the 2023-24 NBA season,” wrote Leiva. “Mitchell’s stellar season with averages of 31.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists underscores his dynamic offensive prowess, making him an enticing asset for any contending team. Miami, having fallen short in recent attempts to bolster their star power, sees Mitchell as the missing piece alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
“The urgency for a third star in Miami is palpable, especially given the formidable acquisitions made by rival teams like the Boston Celtics securing Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, as well as the pairing of Damian Lillard with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee. The Heat’s pursuit of Mitchell is not solely about addressing immediate needs but about making a statement in a highly competitive Eastern Conference.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
Making the trade, Leiva outlined would certainly allow the Heat to become true title contenders while alleviating the concerns critics have always had about them. They have always had problems getting off to slow starts in big games and in the playoffs against teams such as the Bucks and Celtics, and Mitchell would allow them to attack teams early and often and not have to play from behind as much.
He is also a big-game player who has a history of dropping lots of points come playoff time. While he has a career average of 24.7 points a game in the regular season, his average in the playoffs is at 27.8 points per contest.
The one problem here is that Mitchell, a native of the New York City area, is rumored to want to go to the Knicks. When the Utah Jazz made him available in trade talks during the summer of 2022, many thought he would end up there, but the Cavs outbid the Knicks.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
If Mitchell could be convinced to prefer 75-degree winter days over the Tri-state area’s white and blustery winters, perhaps he would be the final piece for Miami.
