The Miami Heat have plenty of big names to pursue in the offseason, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid
Ex-NBA All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were once the biggest rivals of the Miami Heat.
After their retirements, they have taken up careers in the media. They host a podcast called "KG Certified," where they give their takes on the NBA and other issues.
On a recent edition, they discussed the Heat's offseason plans. Many have said the Heat need retool the roster to avoid the purgatory they have been in the past few years. Miami has played in the Play-In Tournament that past four years. Even though they made the Finals once, both Pierce and Garnett think it's time to break up the roster.
Pierce suggested the Heat go after Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid during free agency.
"It's time to get on the phone, if you can get Embiid," Pierce said on the podcast. "You've got to go for it. Give up (Kel'el) Ware."
Garnett responded, "I don't know if I'm giving that up" but he does think the Heat needs a chance.
The Heat have plenty of trade bargaining chips, including Tyler Herro, Norman Powell Jr., Jaime Jaquez and Nikola Jovic. Garnett said a move to Miami could rejuvenate Embiid's career. He has dealt with injury the past few years after winning league MVP in 2023.
The Heat have been known to get the best out of players after they struggled.
"He needs some Pat Riley," Garnett said. That might help him. That Miami (bleep) be reviving (players). Jamal Mashburn went down there, (Ike Austin) went down there. They just know how to keep people professional. They know how to keep people steady. They might not win but Miami's got a great organization ... That's a real machine down there."
While many think the Heat should target Giannis Antetokounmpo this season, an Embiid signing could be beneficiary. The pairing of him with Bam Adebayo could provide matchup problems for most of the league.
Perhaps then the Heat could get out of this current predicament of average basketball. Then they could return to being one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference like they were during the early 2010s.
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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of HeatRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com