The Miami Heat were a Jimmy Butler three-pointer away from making their second NBA Finals in the span of three years. Miami may have come up short of reaching its ultimate goal of winning a championship. Still, the Heat should be proud of how their season went, especially with the way they fought for their playoff lives through the last couple of games of their best-of-seven series against the Boston Celtics.
Nonetheless, the Heat organization isn't one to hang its hat on moral victories. Pat Riley certainly isn't that type of guy. You'd have to think the Godfather already has something up his sleeve to improve Miami's roster ahead of a potential title run again next season. Miami holds the 27th pick in this year's draft and that is certainly an asset they can dangle to fix the margins of their core.
With that said, here are two trades the Heat can make using the No. 27 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
2 trades Heat can make using No. 27 pick
Rumblings about a potential Donovan Mitchell-Rudy Gobert split in Utah have gone louder once the Jazz were eliminated in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Mitchell has remained adamant that he is still committed to Utah. But if he realizes this summer that he may have no shot at winning a title with the Jazz anytime soon, perhaps he asks out.
Miami should pounce on the opportunity to acquire a potential franchise star like Mitchell. Many have compared Spida to Heat legend Dwyane Wade due to their similar playing styles. With that, it's only fitting that Mitchell could end up as a member of the house that D-Wade built.
Obviously the Heat would need to give up a ton more assets to Utah if the Jazz were to even consider doing a deal with Miami. Perhaps the Heat could start with a package centered around Tyler Herro, this pick, Duncan Robinson as salary filler, and more draft assets.
Mitchell would create a fearsome wing tandem alongside Jimmy Butler. We learned in these Eastern Conference Finals that Miami lacked offensive firepower and that ultimately became their downfall. The three-time All-Star would instantly fill that need. And this could ultimately propel the Heat to the NBA Finals.
2. Bradley Beal
Another talented offensive guard that is on the trade rumor mill is Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal. Like Mitchell, Beal has yet to give up on his commitment to the team that drafted him third overall in 2012. But should he realize that his situation in Washington is clearly going south, perhaps he finally requests as trade this upcoming summer.
The Heat should strongly consider acquiring Beal should the Wizards make him available. In a lot of ways, he and Mitchell are the same types of players. The only difference is that Beal is older by four years. The three-time All-Star also had an injury-riddled campaign in 2021-22, but he should be ready by the start of next season.
With this deal, Miami could once again package Tyler Herro, this No. 27 pick, along with some more draft picks and salary filler for Beal. The Wizards will want to get as many future assets as possible as they go into full rebuild mode after trading their franchise star.
Beal and Butler will be one of the best duos in the Eastern Conference. And like Mitchell, he addresses the offensive woes they went through during their playoff run this season.
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