The Miami Heat ended their season on a sour note—both on the court and in roster stability. The departure of star forward Jimmy Butler left the franchise leaning heavily on Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, who are now tasked with keeping the team afloat. While the duo continues to carry the load, Miami’s lack of frontcourt depth remains a glaring issue. Fortunately for Heat fans, the NBA franchise may already have its eyes set on a potential solution.
The Heat have come under fire this offseason for what many consider an underwhelming approach to roster construction. After a season that fell short of expectations, Miami has yet to make a major splash in free agency or through trades, leading to doubts about their competitiveness in a rapidly improving Eastern Conference.
Heading into the offseason, Miami had its sights set on adding a star-caliber player to form a new Big Three around Adebayo and Herro. High-profile targets reportedly included Zion Williamson and Kevin Durant—players who could immediately elevate the Heat’s ceiling.
However, none of those blockbuster moves materialized. Instead, Miami has seen Duncan Robinson depart and brought in Simone Fontecchio as its most notable addition—hardly the type of transaction to shift the balance of power in the East.
With Herro and Adebayo still anchoring the team, the Heat remain in need of frontcourt reinforcements. Their lack of size and athleticism inside has been a point of concern, and a new trade proposal aims to address that weakness by upgrading the power forward spot while moving off an underperforming asset.
Proposed Trade: Miami Heat receive: John Collins; Utah Jazz receive: Terry Rozier, 2027 second-round pick (OKC/NYK/SAS swap), 2031 second-round pick (UTA swap)
While the trade may not shake up the league, it offers Miami a solid building block. John Collins, still just 26, brings athleticism, rebounding, and scoring potential to a roster that desperately needs more firepower up front. His presence could allow the Heat to better complement Adebayo in the paint and stretch the floor offensively.
If the deal goes through, Miami’s starting rotation would undergo key adjustments. The backcourt of Herro and Rozier—if retained—would stay intact, while Collins would slide into the power forward role alongside Adebayo. Should the Heat hold onto Andrew Wiggins, who has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers in NBA trade rumors, he could complete a revamped frontcourt trio with Collins and Adebayo, giving Miami a more versatile and balanced lineup.
With pressure mounting in South Beach, the Heat must act decisively. Adding a player like John Collins won’t solve all of their problems, but it’s a step in the right direction for a franchise that’s desperately trying to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive conference.