If the Miami Heat’s last season proved anything, it’s that they need to add a reliable scorer to complement Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
One name has emerged as a potential option to give Miami the offensive firepower it needs to elevate its scoring: Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen. Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz proposed a potential trade that would send the three-level scorer to Miami, primarily to help offset the loss of six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors
Miami Heat Receive: F Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz Receive Receive: F Nikola Jović, G Terry Rozier, F Duncan Robinson, 2025 first-round pick (No. 20 overall via Golden State Warriors), 2030 first-round pick (top-five-protected)
“Trading Jimmy Butler left this roster desperate for another big-time scorer, something Markkanen proved he could be during the last three years in Utah,” Swartz wrote. “We could see a huge front line in Miami with Markkanen, Kel’el Ware, and Bam Adebayo, giving this roster a good mixture of outside shooting and defensive versatility.”
Markkanen averaged 19.0 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 34.6 percent from three last season. However, during his 2023 All-Star campaign, he posted 25.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and shot 39.1 percent from beyond the arc. He dropped in production but could still be a solid offensive weapon for a struggling Heat team.
