![\"Milwaukee](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/milwaukee-bucks-v-oklahoma-city-thunder-championship-emirates-nba-cup-2024-2-e1789845579329.jpg\")
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 17: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates after he checked out late in the fourth quarter of the championship game of the Emirates NBA Cup against the Oklahoma City Thunder at T-Mobile Arena on December 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bucks defeated the Thunder 97-81. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The Miami Heat<\/a> offseason may be finished after all. Although the Heat has room for one more player, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that the team could take a slow approach to the last roster spot.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Heat plans to keep the 15th roster spot open for a while, in case a needle-moving player becomes available in free agency,\u201d Jackson reported.<\/p>\n So, who could that player be? And which \u201cneedle-moving\u201d player can become available now that virtually all free agents have found a new home? Well, over in Sacramento, star guard Zach LaVine<\/a> could find his way out of town soon, especially if LaVine makes it a priority to get to a contender and the Kings are willing to comply.\u00a0<\/p>\n Could the Miami Heat Have LaVine Path Soon?<\/p>\n \n According to Jackson, the Heat could be a team to watch<\/a> when next season\u2019s trade deadline closes in.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the modern sports fan, so much of the focus is about what\u2019s next. So even after a summer in which Miami acquired a two-time MVP (Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>) and another future Hall of Famer (Klay Thompson<\/a>), the questions keep coming about which player the Heat can now add to put it over the top. Quick answer: At the moment, nobody. But that could change at February\u2019s trade deadline,\u201d Jackson wrote. \u201cIt could change next summer if a former All-Star past his prime decides to sign with the Heat for the full nontaxpayer midlevel exception, a mechanism Miami has preserved for the 2027 offseason. Three former All-Star guards who have been a source of speculation \u2014 Kyrie Irving<\/a>, Zach LaVine and Jrue Holiday<\/a> \u2014 would all boost the Heat\u2019s title hopes.\u201d<\/p>\n Although there is some expectation that Irving could become available for trade at the midway point of next season, the Heat, with no tradeable first round picks, can\u2019t entirely consider itself a contender to land the nine-time All-Star. Holiday could be a realistic option if the Portland Trail Blazers<\/a> are pacing short of the playoffs. But LaVine is absolutely the most likely option.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe question with LaVine is this: If the Kings are out of contention in February, as expected, would he give up the prorated portion of his $48.9 million salary to take a buyout and join the Heat or another team? It\u2019s certainly not out of the question, but we\u2019re talking about a sizable chunk of cash. And he also would be giving up his Bird rights. So the odds are against it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Miami Could Be LaVine\u2019s Top Suitor if Buyout Happens<\/p>\n If the Kings are willing to swallow the remaining $49 million on LaVine\u2019s contract, the Heat can be expected to be the first in line to scoop up the two-time All-Star.<\/p>\n The Heat has already shown it has no problem staying patient. For weeks, it was reported that Klay Thompson would stay put in Dallas because the Mavericks<\/a> would not agree to buyout the remaining $17.4 million on Thompson\u2019s deal. Miami sat still the entire time believing the veteran sharpshooter would eventually shake free. Indeed, that\u2019s how it ended up happening.<\/p>\n Of course, the Thompson to LaVine comparison isn\u2019t exactly apples to apples. As of this time, the Kings don\u2019t have any interest in buying out LaVine\u2019s contract, according to the Sacramento Bee.\u00a0<\/p>\n LaVine, 31, has been deprived of a winning situation for much of his 12-year career. The Heat isn\u2019t considered a world-beater, but LaVine would instantly step into a winning environment with a move to Miami.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tAdel Ahmad<\/a> Adel is a writer with over five years of experience covering the NBA. His work has appeared on various media platforms, both national and local. More about Adel Ahmad<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 17: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates after he checked…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":405308,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[123,125,124],"class_list":["post-405307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-miami","tag-miami","tag-miami-headlines","tag-miami-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=405307"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405307\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/405308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=405307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=405307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=405307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Los](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/los-angeles-lakers-v-sacramento-kings-sacramento-california-october-26-zach-1-e1785712539584.jpg\")
GettySACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA \u2013 OCTOBER 26: Zach Lavine #8 of the Sacramento Kings<\/a> dribbles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> at Golden 1 Center on October 26, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images)\n<\/p>\n