Following the big-time offseason for the Miami Heat, Pat Riley should try and pivot again by unloading Nikola Jovic’s extension for a veteran guard to bolster Miami’s new-look championship rotation.
The Miami Heat are having a franchise-changing offseason thus far. The team went out and finally landed the big-name star they've wanted for years in Giannis Antetokounmpo as part of one of the biggest blockbuster deals of the decade. However, given Antetokounmpo's caliber of play, the team had to part with multiple players including 2025 All-Star Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis while also adding Bobby Portis in that same trade. Miami also lost 2026 All-Star guard Norman Powell to the Chicago Bulls in free agency but signed Tim Hardaway Jr. to a one-year deal while also bringing back Simone Fontecchio for another year.
There is one player in the current Heat rotation who the team could be actively trying to shop around the league. Nikola Jovic, the team's first-round pick from 2022, signed a four-year rookie contract extension worth $62.4 million prior to last season. Pat Riley really liked what he had to offer for the foreseeable future. However, it seems the team is already regretting that contract decision as Jovic was basically a non-factor down the stretch of the regular season, only appearing in eight games post-January. There are some players out there in trade discussions who come close to matching Jovic's new salary but Miami may need to attach a pick alongside the young forward. Here is a possible trade involving Jovic that could happen prior to next season:
Heat receive: G Ty Jerome
Grizzlies receive: F Nikola Jovic, 2031 second-round draft pick
Jerome, 29, broke out in 2025 with the Cleveland Cavaliers as a strong guard who can perform off the bench. He put up 50/40 splits and was impressive enough to earn a three-year contract with the Grizzlies worth $28 million in the 2025 offseason. However, his Memphis tenure thus far has been mostly plagued by injuries, only making his debut in January. He played in 15 games but averaged just south of 20 points and continued to display the efficiency he showed during his breakout season. Now, the Grizzlies look to be headed towards a rebuild by moving on from Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. Now, Jerome could be next and the Heat could use a sharp guard outside of Davion Mitchell.
With the Heat adding Portis as part of the trade for Antetokounmpo, they already have a strong presence at the backup power forward spot. If Miami can find a way to move Jovic's salary that's on the table for four more seasons in exchange for a contract like Jerome's, they should jump at the opportunity to do so as Jerome may be a better flat-out option as part of the rotation at the moment.
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