The Miami Heat have started the season hot. After adding Norman Powell and with Jaime Jaquez taking another step forward, Miami looks deeper and more dynamic than it did last year. Through the first stretch of the season, no team has scored more points per game.
Still, the ceiling feels lower than it used to. The Heat haven’t had a true offensive superstar since Jimmy Butler’s exit. Powell’s addition has boosted the scoring, but neither Tyler Herro nor Bam Adebayo has proven to be a consistent number one option.
That’s where one trade pitch from Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey comes in. His “dream target” for Miami? Zion Williamson.
Zion’s Fit in Miami’s System
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When healthy, Williamson is one of the league’s most unstoppable interior scorers. A 6’6″, 280-pound force who averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists last season for the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Heat currently rank first in points per game (131.5). But that production comes by committee, not dominance. Zion changes that. He’s gravity. He’s contact. He’s chaos.
When Zion drives, defenses crumble. The whistle blows. The floor opens for everyone else. That kind of rim pressure could unlock a new layer for a team already lethal from deep.
His power would complement Herro and Powell on the wings. It would let Adebayo create instead of carry. If Zion stays healthy, he fits everything Miami is built to be.
A Calculated Gamble for Pat Riley and the Heat
Bailey called Williamson Miami’s “dream target.” But it’s a dream wrapped in risk. The New Orleans Pelicans are unlikely to move him anytime soon, especially after Zion showed up in noticeably better shape this offseason.
Their new core is forming around Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Jordan Poole. Rookie Jeremiah Fears has flashed potential, and Dejounte Murray is still to return. Unless something drastic happens, it’s hard to imagine New Orleans walking away from Zion now.
But Pat Riley has never been afraid of the deep end. After missing out on Damian Lillard two years ago, the Heat have been waiting for another shot at a star. If the Pelicans ever waver, Riley won’t hesitate. He’s the kind of player who could raise Miami’s ceiling back to contender level.
Is Zion Williamson the Answer?
The Heat don’t just need another scorer. They need a star. Since Butler’s exit, they’ve played hard, moved the ball, and stayed competitive. But effort only takes you so far. Zion could be the one to close that gap — if his body holds up.
Still, it’s unlikely New Orleans entertains anything right now. They finally look like a team with direction and balance. Trading Zion would derail that progress.
If the door ever cracks open, though, Miami will be ready. The Heat have a history of staying patient — and striking when the right opportunity comes along.
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