High-profile stars Kyrie Irving, Jrue Holiday, and Zach LaVine emerge as potential targets as Pat Riley weighs expensive veteran depth against the Miami Heat's current championship-caliber roster.
MIAMI, Fla. – The 2026-27 NBA trade deadline is five months away, but the business side of basketball doesn’t wait; the Miami Heat have reportedly been linked to a few candidates.
Kyrie Irving is arguably the most prolific star currently mentioned in rumors. The 34-year-old did not play last season; he was sidelined with a torn ACL. However, Irving hasn’t shown any signs of decline on the court. In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 24.7 points on 47.3 percent shooting, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in 50 games (all starts).
The nine-time All-Star is on an expiring contract, set to make $39.49 million this league year, and a $42.42 million player option for the 2027-28 season. There have been no indications or reports of Irving seeking a buyout from the Dallas Mavericks, but teams continue to monitor his situation. Irving will turn 35 in the late portion of this upcoming season.
Coming off a significant injury, the Heat shouldn’t trade for him, given his age and salary.
Next on the list is two-time NBA Champion Jrue Holiday. He’s one of the best defensive guards in the league. Holiday spent last season with the Portland Trail Blazers and averaged 16.3 points on 45.1 percent shooting, 4.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and a steal in 53 games (51 starts).
The 36-year-old would be a tremendous addition to the Heat’s roster, especially as a facilitator. However, Holiday’s contract might be a price too big to pay. He’s set to make $34.8 million this season, with a player option for 2027-28 worth up to $37.2 million. Holiday would be an immediate fit on the Heat’s roster, but the contract is too much to absorb.
Finally, Zach LaVine is mentioned as a trade candidate. He averaged 19.2 points on 47.9 percent shooting, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 39 games (37 starts) with the Sacramento Kings. Although LaVine is a prolific scorer, the 31-year-old is known to be a defensive liability. He’s set to make $48.97 million this season and enter unrestricted free agency next summer.
Holiday would be the best option for the Heat, but only in a buyout scenario. Otherwise, the roster is still good enough to win the Eastern Conference and compete for a championship. The Heat will have months of games before making any drastic roster changes ahead of the trade deadline.
Anthony Aguirre covers the Miami Hurricanes and Miami Heat for Roundtable Sports. Contact info for tips/info: [email protected] & 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
