The Miami Heat are 3-3 to begin the 2025-26 NBA Season. Erik Spoelstra has been navigating multiple injury issues over the opening week of the new campaign, including Tyler Herro‘s absence from the rotation.
However, a new-look offense and some impressive performances from rotational players have ensured Heat fans can remain optimistic. Nevertheless, it’s clear the Heat are still a star player away from being real threats in the Eastern Conference.
With that in mind, long-time NBA analysts Bill Simmons and Joe House suggested the Heat should try to pry Paul George away from the Philadelphia 76ers. Simmons and House recently postulated a potential trade between the two teams that would send Terry Rozier and Andrew Wiggins to the Sixers in return for the All-Star forward.
“That Rozier trade, that contract is a wonderful asset magically out of nowhere,” House said on ‘The Bill Simmons Podcast’. “Miami gets this incredible asset. I think Paul George could make sense in Miami. Why is Miami saying no, because of that third year of that contract?”
Simmons then replied.
“Yeah. Because you’re thinking, especially if you have Bam and you’re paying Herro, could you be in play for the Giannis types two years from now. Do you want to tie up your cap? And is Paul George demonstrably better than Andrew Wiggins? Is he going to be that much of an upside that it’s worth tying up your cap for a third year? And Philly doesn’t have picks.”
The Heat would be gambling by moving for George, who has struggled with health in recent years. However, pairing him with Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Norman Powell would give Miami an elite two-way rotation.
George Underwent Offseason Surgery
George is yet to suit up for the Sixers this season, as he continues to recover from offseason surgery. In a July 15 appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today, NBA Insider Shams Charania shed some light on why George opted to undergo a medical procedure midway through the summer.
“The doctors felt like this would be an injury that would linger,” Charania said. “For a player that was never healthy all last year, Paul George’s season ended rehabbing from injections on groin and knee injuries. He had a finger injury during the season as well, and now he starts rehab for this knee injury and he will be re-evaluated at the start of this upcoming training camp, but I am told both sides will be cautious with him, want to see Paul George return to that full form Paul George they have not seen in Philadelphia.”
Of course, the hope will now be that when George is cleared to play, he can get back to an All-Star level and re-emerge as one of the best forwards in the East, if not the NBA.
A George Trade Is Unlikely For The Heat
After missing out on Kevin Durant earlier this summer, the Heat opted to add Powell and stand pat on any additional moves for a star-level talent. Pat Riley may have his eye on potentially letting the Heat’s cap space clear itself before making moves in free agency.
Adding George would be counterproductive to that approach. The veteran forward has three seasons left on his $211 million contract. The final year is a player option.
Miami may be unwilling to add additional years onto its cap sheet, especially for an injury-prone forward in the twilight of his career. Therefore, while a move for George sounds good on paper, Heat fans are unlikely to see the forward strutting his stuff at the Kaseya Center as a member of Miami’s roster.
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