As the offseason approaches, it’s reasonable to believe that aside from Tyler Herro and possibly Bam Adebayo, the rest of the Miami Heat roster could be on the move. Pat Riley is expected to make bold decisions to ensure Erik Spoelstra has a competitive squad for next season.
The want away player is one name frequently mentioned in trade talks. In a recent South Florida Sun Sentinel mailbag, Ira Winderman detailed why Wiggins is a logical trade asset.
“I’d say it’s about 50-50, and I might even lean toward it not happening—unless it’s to facilitate a bigger move,” Winderman noted. “Wiggins’ contract fits nicely for trade scenarios. With Riley focusing more on retooling than rebuilding, using Wiggins’ deal to land a more reliable offensive contributor makes sense… It almost seemed like Wiggins was just a stopgap for a team clearly needing a shakeup, if not a total revamp.”
Wiggins hasn’t matched the level of play he showed during the Warriors’ 2022 championship run. Still in his prime and with a manageable contract, he’s likely to attract interest from multiple teams.
Kevin Durant is expected to be Miami’s top target this summer, with the Phoenix Suns reportedly open to trade discussions. According to Marc Stein, the Heat are among the teams believed to be preparing an offer.
“The Heat, along with Minnesota, are commonly viewed as potential trade destinations for Durant this offseason,” Stein shared in his newsletter.
Wiggins would probably be included in any deal for Durant due to his contract’s value in salary matching. The Suns might view him as a solid 3-and-D option on the wing—though he may not be a long-term fit there.
Although tweaking the roster makes sense, it doesn’t fully address deeper issues, such as the team’s aging core. Still, Pat Riley remains committed to staying competitive, not starting from scratch. His recent comments made that clear.
“I believe aging star players can still elevate in the playoffs,” Riley said. “Look at LeBron—there are players in their mid-to-late 30s still performing at a high level. You just have to find the right one. I’m not opposed to that at all.”
Durant would be a major boost for Miami, even if only temporarily. The concern is that the team could find itself in a similar position a few years down the line. But if Durant helps deliver a championship, Riley’s strategy will once again be proven right—and few would criticize the result.