After trading star Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline last season, the Miami Heat didn’t appear to have a clear path to contending. Be that as it may, they have made the most of the Butler trade by turning the assets from that deal into an underrated roster.
They acquired Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and Golden State’s 20th pick, which they used to acquire draft steal Kasparas Jakucionis. Post-trade, they landed Davion Mitchell. They also included Anderson in the deal to land Norm Powell from the L.A. Clippers, turning a rotation player into a borderline all-star in what has to be one of the steals of the summer.
That’s quite a haul for a 35-year-old Butler and gives the Heat plenty of options going forward. The Heat could have max cap space next summer, even more if the rumored Wiggins trade happens. And while they may not land a superstar, it gives them far more flexibility than they’ve had in recent years.
The Miami Heat clearly won the Jimmy Butler trade
They will also be able to trade up to three first-round picks next summer, and that, combined with cap space, could allow them to trade for a third star to pair with Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.
After holding on to Butler for perhaps too long and having him force his way out of Miami, the early returns from that trade couldn’t be any better for the Heat. They made the playoffs without Butler, and though they were swept in the first round, there’s reason to be hopeful.
A projected starting lineup of Herro, Powell, Wiggins, Adebayo, and Kelell Ware is a strong starting five. That lineup is the perfect blend of offense and defense, with Herro and Powell combining to average 45.6 points and shoot a blistering 39.6% from three on 14.2 attempts per game.
Having two 20-point scorers who can bomb from outside is a major plus and helps to boost their offense ceiling. Wiggins, despite his inconsistency offensively, is a capable 3-point shooter and low usage offensive option while providing perimeter defense to boot.
Adebayo is a versatile player, with him being an improved scorer and an elite defender, while Ware can hopefully take a big leap as a floor spacer and lob threat as well as being a rim protector.
Meanwhile, the returning Mitchell is a big upgrade over Terry Rozier, who was comically—potentially criminally bad– last season. Mitchell was key to helping them make the playoffs last season, exploding in the play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks, and his defense and playmaking should give their second unit a nice boost.
All told, the Heat’s roster looks surprisingly good post-Butler. If they continue to play their cards right by making smart moves and developing young talent, then the Heat could soon return to title contention.
