Aug 12, 2023; Springfield, MA, USA; Miami Heat president Pat Riley walks the red carpet at the 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Eric Canha-Imagn Images

OPINION: Miami Heat Should Add Six-Time All-Star By Trading $25 Million Guard

Originally posted on Miami Heat on SI | By Sean Jordan | Last updated Aug 5, 2025 1:10 PM ET

The Miami Heat are having a successful offseason, bringing in guards Norman Powell and incoming rookie Kasparas Jakucionis. Improving the guard rotation was a priority for Pat Riley and company heading into the offseason. They did just that.

However, while the guard rotation is much improved, other rotations on the roster have been somewhat neglected. The team lost forwards Duncan Robinson, Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson while adding Simone Fontecchio, a forward who has shown slight promise in the NBA throughout his short career.

As of now, the forward rotation consists of Fontecchio, Andrew Wiggins, Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic. Wiggins will start and while Jaquez Jr. and Jovic have shown some promise, the Heat have a golden opportunity to add one of the better trade targets currently floating around the league.

DeMar DeRozan would be the perfect addition for the Miami Heat.

While DeRozan is aging, he has not shown many signs of slowing down. The six-time All-Star joined the Sacramento Kings last season through a sign-and-trade deal. He signed a three-year deal worth $74 million. Throughout his 16th NBA season, he averaged 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists while shooting 47.7 percent from the field. DeRozan has always been viewed as a solid scorer and defender.

Now, you may be asking: Why would Miami want to take on an expensive contract of an old player for the next two seasons?

The simple answer is... the Heat would presumably not be giving much up to acquire him. Miami has one player on the roster who may not be viewed as a piece of the rotation this season. That player is Terry Rozier. The 31 year-old guard disappointed in his first full season with Miami by shooting 39 percent from the field. He is on an expiring contract with his salary this season sitting at $25 million.

Rozier's contract lines up almost perfectly with DeRozan's for a swap to occur. The Kings are one of those teams who seem they're one move away from completely blowing it up and embracing a rebuild. Moving DeRozan could be that move. A package consisting of Rozier plus a second-round pick or two could get a deal done.

If DeRozan joined the Heat, Miami could have a real shot at finishing as one of the top-seeded teams in a depleted Eastern Conference. With stars such as Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum on the mend for most if not the entire season, the Heat should jump at the opportunity to get an impact player and go chase a championship. DeRozan could very well be the missing piece to this new-look rotation.