Three Miami Heat players we’d want to see join the Utah Jazz next season
As the Utah Jazz wait for the NBA lottery draw, they are also watching other NBA teams finish their seasons. While the Jazz missed the playoffs outright, other teams that reached it but swiftly exited are now forced to evaluate their seasons and determine how to proceed.
The Miami Heat are one such club, having been eliminated from the playoffs by the NBA’s top Boston Celtics on Wednesday night in a disappointing 118-84 loss. After competing in the NBA Finals a year ago, a first-round elimination seemed sudden.
Injuries were a problem, as team leader Jimmy Butler and midseason addition Terry Rozier both missed the whole series. However, given the Celtics’ performance, the outcome seemed expected to be the same: a Miami defeat.
The Heat will now enter the 2024-25 season with a similar roster, since they are well over the salary limit and have committed around $135 million in four players – Butler, Adebayo, Herro, and Rozier.
The Utah Jazz can acquire players who may not be in the Heat’s short-term plans. They may also deal veterans who would be more valuable to Miami than they are now in Utah on a rebuilding club.
If the Heat were to go all-in on veterans to attempt for one more title shot, it would be in the summer of 2024, when Jimmy Butler may opt out a year from now, as well as move on from Terry Rozier (team option) and begin a rebuild around Bam Abedayo, who would be 28 next summer.
Butler and Abedayo will not be on our list because Miami is unlikely to transfer any of them.
Kelly Olynyk and Thomas Bryant.
Thomas Bryant – center
Bryant, a 6’10” big, played respectable backup minutes this season, averaging 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game. However, when called upon, he has shown to be a strong starter, averaging 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds for the Los Angeles Lakers last season.
The Jazz could likely need an upgrade at this position, as well as a guy who can compete with Walker Kessler for the starting job. Bryant is tough enough to hold his own against some of the bigger centers, keeping the Jazz competitive in the paint.
Bryant did not play in the most of the series with Boston, so it appears he is not in the Heat’s plans and would be an easy addition to any club this summer. The Jazz would be wise to pursue guys of his quality as they create their roster for 2024-25.
