Heat Floated As Trade Destination For All-Star Guard

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Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat

The Miami Heat have opened the 2025–26 season with a mixed bag. At 7–5, they sit sixth in the East. Competitive enough to stay in the mix, but still searching for the consistency that defines the league’s top teams. Since Jimmy Butler moved on, Miami have been looking for the next star who truly shifts their ceiling.

One idea proposed by Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus sends Tyler Herro (along with a trade exception) to the Memphis Grizzlies, in exchange for All-Star guard Ja Morant.

The Trade Pitch: Miami Takes the Gamble

Morant’s situation in Memphis has shifted quickly. The Grizzlies suspended him for one game after comments they believed were detrimental to the team, and he admitted he has lost his joy following a third straight loss. When a franchise player starts speaking like that, the league pays attention.

Miami tend to lean in when others lean out. They see possibility in players who need a different environment. Structure, accountability and culture have long been their selling points. They believe they can steady players who have veered off course. They have done it before.

Pincus noted that Morant may not fit Erik Spoelstra’s system immediately. That might be true. But when a player with this level of talent becomes even remotely obtainable, teams think hard about what it would look like.

Why It Makes Sense for Both Sides

For Memphis, a move like this resets the board. Trading Morant’s $39.4 million salary opens space — in the locker room and on the books. Herro gives them shooting, scoring and team control. When he returns from his ankle injury, he fits nicely next to Jaren Jackson Jr. and young pieces like Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward.

For Miami, the appeal is obvious. Morant changes possessions by himself. His speed, burst and rim pressure turn slow games into track meets. Over his last three full seasons, he averaged 23.2 points, 7.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds. When he is right, he is one of the toughest covers in basketball.

Put him next to Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell and the Heat suddenly have a downhill trio that forces teams to react. More importantly, it gives Miami a clearer identity, something they have lacked.

Is Morant Worth the Risk for the Heat?

For the Heat, this is a question about ceiling. Herro is a talented scorer. Adebayo is an All-Star and the foundation of their identity. But neither is the type of player who changes a playoff series against a New York or Oklahoma City. Morant can be that player when everything aligns.

For Memphis, it comes down to control. If a split feels more likely than a long-term partnership, getting value on their terms becomes the priority.

Moves like this rarely happen early in a season, but the logic is there. Miami want a star. Memphis want stability. At some point, those goals could intersect.

Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins