The Miami Heat are missing something.
After trading six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler this season, a move that reshaped their roster and identity, the team needs another superstar to reignite their contention aspirations.
With Bam Adebayo as the cornerstone and a supporting cast of young talent, Miami’s front office, led by Pat Riley, could make a splash this summer.
As speculation swirls about potential targets, one name has emerged as a game-changer who could redefine the Heat’s offensive approach and restore their competitive edge in the Eastern Conference.
The Heat’s offense struggled mightily post-Butler, exposing a glaring need for a dynamic playmaker.
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Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes recently highlighted a potential solution, stating, “Trae Young would provide the Miami Heat with the star they always chase and the offensive identity they lost upon trading Jimmy Butler. Even in a half-season with one foot out the door, Butler was the difference between passable and atrocious offense in Miami. His presence on the court boosted the Heat’s offensive rating to a respectable 117.2. When he sat (and after he was traded), that figure plummeted to 108.4."
"Young is one of those rare ‘offense unto himself’ producers, a deep-shooting threat who has total control in the pick-and-roll and rates among the half-dozen best passers in the league," Hughes continued.
"He’d step in and transform Miami’s attack, freeing up Bam Adebayo to defend and play the secondary offensive role that best suits him. Even if Tyler Herro has to be part of the outgoing package, the Heat’s offense would take a major step forward with Young at the controls.”
Young, the Atlanta Hawks’ All-Star point guard, brings the kind of offensive firepower Miami desperately needs. His ability to orchestrate pick-and-rolls, knock down deep threes, and deliver pinpoint passes would revolutionize the Heat’s attack.
Pairing Young with Adebayo could create one of the NBA’s most dynamic duos, with Bam thriving as a rim-protecting, secondary scorer alongside Young’s playmaking brilliance. Kel’el Ware’s athleticism and Andrew Wiggins’ two-way play could further complement this core.
Could Miami even pull off the deal without involving Herro? One proposed trade package, per Bleacher Report, could see Miami sending Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jović, Pelle Larsson, and two first-round picks (2025 No. 20 via Golden State and a 2030 protected pick) to Atlanta.
For the Hawks, this haul would offer young talent and draft capital to retool around Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Zaccharie Risacher, while Miami would land the star they need. Young’s $46 million salary for 2025-26 and $49 million player option for 2026-27 are steep, but his offensive impact could justify the cost for a Heat team aiming to contend now.
While Young’s defensive limitations raise questions, Erik Spoelstra’s coaching prowess could mitigate them, leveraging Adebayo and Ware’s rim protection.
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