Potential Miami Heat Target Requests Trade From Western Conference Team

The Miami Heat are slowly starting to put the pieces together after a sluggish start to the regular season. The team has won three of their last five games. The fit between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo has been questionable to start the season but with both being All-Stars, there is faith the two can figure out how to co-exist in the frontcourt.

With the slow start and the inconsistencies on the roster at the moment, the trade rumors are already beginning to heat up. One name the team has been monitoring is Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving. Irving, 34, recently returned to the court for the first time since March 2025 after suffering a torn ACL and missing the entire 2025-26 season. So far in his return, Irving has performed very well and it has led the Mavericks to have no interest in moving on from the nine-time All-Star this season despite the team seemingly being in the midst of a rebuild.

With Irving reportedly out of the mix now, there is still another guard who should be high up the Heat's board when looking at guards to acquire via trade: New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported Friday afternoon that Murray requested a trade from New Orleans. There are already talks involving the guard and his agent, Rich Paul, along with Pelicans officials, are working to find a trade partner immediately.

Murray, 30, was once viewed as one of the best two-way guards in the entire league but the past few seasons for the 2022 All-Star have not been the strongest. He returned to the court last season following his injury due to a torn Achilles suffered in January 2025. In the brief 14 games he played last year, Murray looked rehabilitated as a player and he has continued to look the same to start this season, looking healthy and strong as a player again although his splits have not been the most consistent thus far.

The Pelicans could sell most of their team this season and given Murray's age and decline from the player he was a few seasons ago, he may not be that expensive in a possible trade, especially now that he won't be playing for New Orleans while they find a trade partner. He is under contract through 2028.

Adding Murray could benefit Miami greatly. It would take the load off Davion Mitchell and his ball-handling duties despite him being quite a solid player this season. It could also send Klay Thompson to the bench as a sixth man, where he may be better suited at this point of his career.