{"id":282887,"date":"2026-05-24T16:09:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T16:09:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/282887\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T16:09:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T16:09:11","slug":"the-five-worst-trades-in-miami-heat-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/282887\/","title":{"rendered":"The five worst trades in Miami Heat history"},"content":{"rendered":"

How many readers were around when the Miami Heat still hadn’t brought in Pat Riley<\/a>? He\u2019s the face of the team, despite not having final say, and has caught much criticism from the national media and public about his job lately. <\/p>\n

He hasn\u2019t been perfect, but his run as an executive rivals some of the best in NBA history.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If it wasn\u2019t for the silver fox Don faxing his resignation to the New York Knicks, who knows how long it would\u2019ve taken for the Heat to become a legitimate organization. Still, there have been some failed trades along the way in three decades. Let\u2019s review the moves that didn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

\"KZ<\/p>\n

Dec 17, 2021; Orlando, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward KZ Okpala (11) shoots the ball against Orlando Magic forward Chuma Okeke (3) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

5. Taking a chance on KZ Okpala<\/p>\n

Only hardcore Heat fans remember KZ Okpala, but he was the typical low risk high reward, gamble that went nowhere. And a player that Riley specifically targeted; the scouting staff reportedly wasn’t as sold.<\/p>\n

The team traded three second-round picks for him, and he lasted 100 regular season and playoff games over four years, despite being unplayable in nearly every minute.<\/p>\n

Okpala is now out of the NBA. <\/p>\n

4. Bringing in Victor Oladipo<\/p>\n

The team was desperate to improve the season after the Orlando bubble (2020-21), and they had been struggling. The committee of execs didn\u2019t trade much (Kelly Olynyk, Avery Bradley, and a second-round pick that didn\u2019t convey) for Oladipo, but Olynyk is still playing (barely any minutes) and is on the San Antonio Spurs, which are in the Western Confernce Finals.<\/p>\n

There were questions about Oladipo’s health status before coming in, and his offensive game had severly fall off while spending 20 outings in Houston. <\/p>\n

Oladipo only lasted four games in Miami before suffering another nasty quad injury. He only played in 67 games over the next two seasons, which included 17 playoffs games.<\/p>\n

\"Kyle<\/p>\n

Jan 5, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry (7) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports | Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

3. Sign and trade for Kyle Lowry <\/p>\n

The team wanted Kyle Lowry badly after the bubble run so someone could organize the offense, and tried to get a move done before the 2021 trade deadline. Lowry arrived later that summer through sign-and-trade, which is not exactly the same thing, but consider the implications: he resisted getting in Heat shape his entire tenure and willingly took plays off. <\/p>\n

There were signs he was slowing down in his last year in Toronto, but the team went for it because he was Jimmy Butler\u2018s friend. Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa were the expended capital, yet the juice wasn\u2019t worth the squeeze, even if Lowry was on board for two deep playoff trips.<\/p>\n

2. Trade for Shabazz Napier<\/p>\n

Remember when LeBron James tweeted \u201cNo way u take another PG in the lottery before [Shabazz] Napier\u201d in 2014 ? Well, the rest is history because the team moved up in the draft to grab him, he stunk and James left anyway. Keep in mind that Clint Capela was the next pick, and how badly did the Heat need a big man before they found Hassan Whiteside? After Capela, the next notable players taken were Bogdan Bogdanovi\u0107, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jerami Grant, Nikola Joki\u0107 (of all people), Dwight Powell and Jordan Clarkson. All of them except Dinwiddie were still playing in 2025-26.<\/p>\n

\"Terry<\/p>\n

Mar 31, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) drives to the basket against Washington Wizards guard AJ Johnson (5) during the first quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images | Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

1. The Terry Rozier trade<\/p>\n

Of course, Riley and the committee had no idea the feds were on Terry Rozier\u2019s tracks when they traded a first-round pick and Lowry to Charlotte. Rozier\u2019s game never fit with the team as he became a liability on both sides, and it couldn\u2019t come at a worse time: the end of the Jimmy Butler era, when the team badly needed a stimulus. When it was revealed that Rozier was accused of federal crimes, the Heat patiently waited for a fair ruling, but were shafted by the league that comped them a SRP instead of a FRP. Again, it\u2019s about the negative impact after the fact, but think about how much more flexibility the team would have if they had an extra FRP.<\/p>\n

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