With the 2024 NBA offseason nearly over, there is still potential for a big trade to shake up the projected standings. Last offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks acquired Damian Lillard in late September in hopes of forming a new dynamic duo in the Eastern Conference. The 2024 NBA champion Boston Celtics didn’t acquire starting point guard Jrue Holiday until October.
The Miami Heat is one team that could be interested in such a trade. It is well known that they were in talks to acquire Lillard before he was traded to Milwaukee. They have been looking for a third star to surround Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo for several seasons. However, their best trade asset – point guard Tyler Herro – has not received the interest they had hoped for.
The Denver Nuggets are also in an interesting situation. After winning the 2023 Finals, the Nuggets fell short in the second round of the 2024 playoffs. Point guard Jamal Murray has struggled with injuries throughout the season, which no doubt played a role in his up-and-down playoff run. effective shooting success rate of 44.8% He was the weakest of any postseason player who attempted more than 200 shots. He had several good games throughout the playoffs, but he didn’t look like the same player who was a key part of the Nuggets’ 2023 title.
His struggles also continued at the Olympic GamesIt’s fair to wonder if the Nuggets would trade Murray to avoid giving him a significant contract extension. His injury history and recent struggles must make the Nuggets at least somewhat reluctant to give him another extension. That appears to be the case. Even if Murray were eligible to sign a four-year, $209 million extension, that offer has yet to materialize.
What if the Heat went all out to get a third star alongside Butler and Adebayo? The Nuggets and Heat both have expensive rosters, so a third team would have to be involved. That’s where the Hawks come in.
Here’s what the three-team deal could look like:
It should be noted that this is simply a fun, speculative exercise to see what kind of moves can be made, not what I think the Hawks should or will do. That’s all.
Atlanta Hawks get: Terry Rozier, Josh Richardson, Nikola Jovic, Peyton Watson, 2026 2nd round pick (via Miami Heat), 2031 1st round pick (top 5 protected, via Denver Nuggets)
Miami Heat gets: Jamal Murray, DeAndre Hunter, Garrison Mathews, 2025 1st round pick (protected 1-12, via Sacramento)
The Denver Nuggets get: Tyler Herro, Kobe Bufkin, Cody Zeller, Pelle Larsson, 2026 1st round pick (unprotected, via Miami Heat), 2031 1st round pick (unprotected, via Miami Heat)
Why the Hawks would make this deal: Atlanta sheds DeAndre Hunter’s contract and revamps its rotation depth. Rozier is a solid backup point guard who can lead bench lineups and mitigate the loss of Bufkin. Richardson struggled with injuries last season but is a solid defender and ball-handler when healthy. The real highlights of this deal are Jovic, Watson, and the 2031 first-round pick. Jovic has shown growth on defense that belies his impressive tools on offense. He shot nearly 40% three-point shooting with 3.5 attempts per game and has made strides as a playmaker in his sophomore season. Watson is more defensively oriented, leading the Nuggets in counterattacks last season. At 6’4″ and with a 7’4″ wingspan, he can hold his own against most forwards and big men. Trae Young obviously struggles on defense, but a lineup of Young, Daniels, Jovic, Johnson and Okongwu has the size to handle any matchup.
Why the Hawks wouldn’t make this deal: Rozier’s salary is pretty high for a backup point guard/seventh man ($24.9 million salary next season). His defense is also questionable at times, which would make him a tough choice next to Young.
Why the Heat would make this deal: When healthy, Murray is a much more dynamic scorer and playmaker than Herro. He can also divert defensive attention away from Butler and Adebayo, allowing them to focus on defense. The prospect of a Murray-Adebayo duo is certainly intriguing and would instantly become a vital part of Miami’s offense. It’s also a good insurance plan for Miami in case Butler decides to decline his player option and leave after this season. They also get a talented forward in DeAndre Hunter, who gives them another capable wing in conjunction with Jamie Jaquez Jr. and Duncan Robinson. Plus, they also get a first-round pick back with a good chance of trading him after sending two first-round picks in this deal. The Heat currently appear to be behind the top teams in the Eastern Conference, but a Murray-Butler-Hunter-Jaquez-Adebayo lineup would certainly be a threat to the top seed in the conference.
Why the Heat wouldn’t make this deal: The Heat would be taking a big risk with Murray’s health and ignoring his recent issues as part of his injury. Butler also isn’t the most durable player, so there’s a good chance both he and Murray could be out for part of the season. They would also be short on backups, which is difficult to address before the trade deadline and buyout market.
Why the Nuggets would make this deal: In addition to getting two first-round picks, the Nuggets get a solid replacement in Herro. The former Sixth Man of the Year isn’t a perfect replacement for Murray, but he has a similar skill set to Murray and can benefit from Jokic’s gravity as an offensive center. More importantly, he gives the Nuggets more future flexibility under the salary cap. They also get a promising young guard in Kobe Bufkin, a backup center with playoff experience in Cody Zeller and two first-round picks to further refine their roster.
Why the Nuggets wouldn’t do this deal: Despite its struggles, the Murray-Jokic duo remains one of the best in the NBA. It would be hard to pick apart that core for a player with as many questions as Herro. He’s also not very durable (missed 40 games last season) and his defensive struggles have limited his potential somewhat. He also struggled throughout the series against the Celtics in the 2024 playoffs as the Heat’s primary offensive option. While he’ll clearly be the second option behind Jokic (or even third depending on Porter Jr.’s production), Herro’s teams have consistently been better in the playoffs without him.
Who says no? Ultimately, I think the Nuggets would say no. While Herro is one of the best replacements available for Jamal Murray, his flaws as a player could make the deal unattractive to Denver. The picks they get from Miami aren’t likely to be top-tier assets, either.
