Should The Miami Heat Bring In More Perimeter Shooting?

The Miami Heat's blockbuster offseason is complete and the team just wrapped up their preseason as well with all eyes focused on the regular season beginning this week. The rotation seems pretty set with a whole bunch of veterans joining this new-look rotation. The Heat lost a lot of perimeter shooting this offseason. The team ranked at No. 11 in team three-point percentage last year. However, Norman Powell shot 38 percent from three-point range and left for the Chicago Bulls in free agency while Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis all shot north of 37 percent and were dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks in the blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo deal.

Now, the Heat have added a few stop-gap veterans to replace the outgoing players but there could be a younger wing for the team to add through a trade. Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht could be dealt soon and Miami would be a solid destination.

Knecht, 25, had an interesting collegiate career. He began his career with Northeastern Junior College in the NJCAA, where he played two seasons from 2019-2021 and even averaged close to 24 points in his second year. His strong performance in his sophomore season gave him the boost to NCAA Division I basketball where he joined the Northern Colorado Bears for two seasons from 2021-2023. However, his most notable efforts came in 2024 when he joined the Tennessee Volunteers to play under legendary coach Rick Barnes for his final college season.

Knecht fully broke out with Tennessee, leading the team to an SEC championship and the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA men's basketball tournament. He was named a consensus first-team All-American and won the SEC Player of the Year award. Due to his amazing final season, he was selected in the first round of the 2024 draft by the Lakers.

With the Lakers, Knecht started off hot and had a legitimate role in the rotation. However, in February 2025, the Lakers agreed to send him to the Charlotte Hornets as part of a deal for center Mark Williams. The deal was rescinded after Williams failed his physical and Knecht was sent back to Los Angeles. Knecht shot 37 percent from three-point range throughout his rookie season but after that trade fiasco, it was apparent the team didn't value him highly and his confidence looked shot as well.

The wing was even assigned to the G-League at the start of his sophomore season and had an up-and-down season this past year. Now, the Lakers could opt to trade him again and the Heat would be smart to try and add him. He still has a few more years on his contract and right now, the three-point shooting wings for Miami are Tim Hardaway Jr. and Klay Thompson. Both are more than serviceable at shooting from beyond the arc but they're also north of 30 years old. If the Heat want to add some youth to the roster, Knecht would be a solid option to bring in and the Lakers aren't presumably asking for much as a return.