Exploring five steps the Miami Heat need to take this offseason if they want to reemerge as championship contenders next year.
Excuses can be made for how this season ended for the Miami Heat, but there's no arguing that this team took a decent step back in their pursuit of an NBA Championship. And heading into the offseason, the pressure is on this front office to flip the script on what was a disappointing season.
The front office will have their hands full in their attempt to resurrect the Heat's standing as a championship contender in the Eastern Conference this offseason. But even though this year was a disaster for the Heat, there is a path back toward contention if they can put together a near-perfect offseason. We explore five steps the Heat must take if they want to reemerge next season as a contender in the East.
Step 1: Draft a high-ceiling prospect with their 2024 1st-round pick
One of the first decisions that the Miami Heat will have to make as it regards to the offseason is how they want to approach the NBA Draft. Their pursuit of a superstar aside, the Heat will have to use this pick to select a player before they're eligible to trade it. With the No. 15 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Heat should select a prospect with a high ceiling - one that will carry value on the trade market.
For what the Heat want to do later on this offseason, they're likely going to need to find value with this selection. A couple of prospects that could still be available when the Heat goes on the clock at No. 15 that would also represent players with high upside are Tidjane Salaun, Ja'Kobe Walter, Jared McCain, and Isaiah Collier. Of course, there are other prospects that would make sense too, but those are a few names that figure to be available for the Heat when they go on the clock.
Miami generally likes to pick prospects who are ready to play right away. In this specific draft, with the goals that they have heading into the offseason, I think they're better off taking a shot on a player with a high ceiling. That should be step 1 for the Heat this offseason.
Step 2: Re-sign Haywood Highsmith over Caleb Martin
It'd be shocking if we see the trade market get a jumpstart before the beginning of NBA Free Agency. So I'm going to assume the Heat will have to make some decisions on their free agents this summer before they have a chance to test the trade market. Assuming that does end up being the case, there's one big free-agent move the Heat have to make as they look to retool their roster this offseason - and it revolves around prioritizing the re-signing of Haywood Highsmith over Caleb Martin.
This may not be a tremendously popular decision but the strides that Highsmith has made in his game over the last year make him a slightly more valuable player for the Heat, especially with the regression that Martin has had in his game over the last season. Add in the fact that Martin is likely going to get significantly much higher free-agent offers than Highsmith, and the decision between the two (assuming one has to be made) becomes that much easier.
Martin was an incredibly valuable player for the Heat over the last few seasons and they probably don't beat the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals without his contributions. However, it may be time for both sides to move on from each other. Martin can get his money while the Heat don't completely gut their depth.
Step 3: Put all their eggs in the Donovan Mitchell basket and offer everything (except Jimmy and Bam)
At some point in July, I believe the fireworks are truly going to begin across the NBA. And there's a very real chance that Donovan Mitchell finds himself at the center of them all. In an ideal scenario, Mitchell would hit the trade block this summer. But if Miami is going to have any shot to land the All-Star guard, they're going to need him to request to be traded to the Heat. At the very least, he has to be on his shortlist of preferred destinations. The good thing for the Heat, I don't think that's an outrageous possibility. In fact, if Mitchell does end up asking for a trade, it's almost a lock that the Heat will be close to the top of his preference wishlist.
But this time around, unlike last year, the Heat needs to put the full-court press. Miami needs to act as if landing Mitchell is the only way they could work themselves back into championship contender status. Quite frankly, it may be.
The Heat should be willing to offer anything on their roster, with the exception of Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler. Every trade-eligible pick and swap should be on the table. As should be the case for Jamie Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro, and Nikola Jovic. The Heat is going to be a desperate team heading into the offseason, and they should be prepared to make an offer that would suggest so.
Step 4: Have a smart plan b if Donovan Mitchell doesn't become available
While landing Donovan Mitchell would be an ideal scenario for the Miami Heat this summer, they should also be prepared for the possibility that the Cleveland Cavaliers either end up re-signing him or trading him to a completely different team. If that ends up happening, the Heat has to have a solid backup plan. Unlike last year in which the Heat didn't have a pivot after whiffing in their pursuit of Damian Lillard, Miami needs to know what they're going to do next if their plans for Mitchell fall through.
That could be a trade target like Zach LaVine, Brandon Ingram, DeMar DeRozan, Paul George, Trae Young, or Dejounte Murray. Either way, if the Heat isn't willing to pivot toward a rebuild after missing out on Mitchell, they need to do something to improve the roster this offseason. They can't afford to head into next season with the exact same build. That would be a huge slap in the face to Jimmy and Bam.
It may not be too much of an ask, but heading into the thick of the offseason, the Heat needs more than one plan. And they must be prepared to make some difficult decisions.
Step 5: Give Jimmy Butler a 1-2 year contract extension
At the end of the day, the Miami Heat needs to keep the heart and soul of the team happy. And giving Jimmy Butler a short-term max extension could be a good way of appeasing both sides. The Heat could essentially give Jimmy a one-year extension with a new deal and would effectively give this Jimmy build a two-year window. No matter what ends up happening this offseason, that's a fair move for both sides. And if the Heat does end up acquiring another All-Star talent, this extension would keep Jimmy around to give him one final shot to win a title before he retires.
In the end, the Heat almost has to have a perfect offseason for them to reemerge as a championship contender next season. While it would be a tall task, it's not entirely off the table. If there's any front office you can have at least some confidence in, it's the Heat's. They've earned it.
Even though that can be difficult to believe after what transpired last offseason, what other option does the franchise have? They're not going to pivot toward a rebuild and, despite the whispers and speculation, it would still be a huge surprise if the Heat ended up trading Jimmy.