The Miami Heat have swung and missed in their pursuit of another star way too many times in recent years.
Either Pat Riley is losing his magic, or he’s failing to adjust to the demands of modern NBA teams and stars.
Whatever the case, that doesn’t mean they will stop trying.
According to a report by Shams Charania of ESPN, the Heat have now set their sights on Jonathan Kuminga.
Reporting on the NBA Draft surrounding a potential free agent target for the Miami Heat: pic.twitter.com/qVsK1DpGO5
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025
They unsuccessfully tried to trade for Kevin Durant, who, despite wanting to play there just like Damian Lillard, will end up suiting up for another team.
It goes without saying that Kuminga is no Kevin Durant, but he’s still young and seems to have a sky-high upside and plenty of untapped potential.
The Warriors can essentially match any offer that Kuminga gets, since he’s a restricted free agent.
That’s why Charania also believes that both parties could look to arrange some sort of sign-and-trade agreement.
Kuminga has been quite vocal about his frustration in the Bay area, even taking shots at coach Steve Kerr for not giving him enough playing time.
While it seems like Kerr has never been fully sold on him, he’s been given countless opportunities to prove that he can be the face of the franchise going forward, but to no avail.
Even so, the physical traits are there, and perhaps he just needs a change of scenery.
One thing’s for sure: the Warriors can’t afford to let him walk without getting anything in return, so a sign-and-trade seems to be the likeliest scenario.
