Team USA has a history of forming super teams. Is it a coincidence that after the 2016 Olympics, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant would pair together in the 2019 offseason in Brooklyn? Consider the 2008 Olympics: Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James were all on the roster and formed the Big Three in Miami two years later.
USA Basketball has brought superstars together. Being on one team with the best players in the world, aiming for one goal—winning the gold medal for your country—brings teammates closer, bonding them in an unfamiliar country as they strive to prove they are the best team in the world.
Heat star center Bam Adebayo is currently fighting for a gold medal with Team USA, and we have seen the connections he has made during these Olympics and the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. While it may be unlikely, Miami could strike gold with one of these players.
Here are five players on Team USA’s 2024 roster who would be great fits on the Heat.
5. LeBron James
It is doubtful that LeBron James would want to leave LA. He just signed a two-year, $104 million maximum contract to return to the Lakers. However, there are pathways to a potential departure. Since winning their 17th banner against the Heat in 2020, the Lakers are now on their third coach and have yet to live up to the high expectations of wearing the purple and gold.
If the Lakers have another disappointing season and Rob Pelinka and the front office do not meet LeBron’s demands, things could get ugly fast. James was willing to accommodate the Lakers by taking a pay cut if they had acquired Jonas Valančiūnas, Klay Thompson, James Harden, or DeMar DeRozan, but the Lakers struck out on all of them.
If Miami could acquire James, it may not cost as much, considering his age. Value-wise, the Heat probably would not have to give up Bam Adebayo or Jimmy Butler—most likely draft capital. It is a move that fits Butler’s timeline and is an all-in push.
Heat fans have seen LeBron in the jersey, and no matter what the beef is between Heat president Pat Riley and James, I am sure it would go away for a chance to win a title. Adding LeBron would instantly make Miami a contender again if Miami kept Bam and Butler. James would lessen the load on Butler in the postseason and give Miami someone who can also run their offense.
4. Devin Booker
Booker’s situation differs significantly from LeBron’s. In Phoenix, tensions are running high as the Suns hired former Bucks and Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer, making him Booker’s seventh coach since being drafted in 2015. The Suns entered last season with sky-high expectations after acquiring Kevin Durant at the 2023 trade deadline and Bradley Beal during the 2023 offseason. Just two years removed from their 2021 Finals appearance, this time with a more robust roster, many anticipated a deep playoff run.
However, under coach Frank Vogel, the Suns underperformed, finishing with the sixth seed and getting swept in the first round by the Timberwolves. Now, the Suns find themselves in a difficult position, stuck in the second apron of the luxury tax, with minimal flexibility to add significant talent. The front office might consider a drastic rebuild if they fail to meet expectations again despite having three of the league’s top scorers.
In the event of internal discord or rebuild, Booker might not be the first to request a trade, but his value would be immense if he did. At 27 years old and entering his prime, Booker would cost a significant package of young players and draft picks. The Heat could be a prime trade partner if James Jones and the Suns’ front office find Miami’s young talent intriguing.
Adding Booker to the Heat would be a transformative move. Miami has long needed a consistent 20 PPG scorer who delivers every night, and Booker, who averaged 27.1 PPG last season, fits that bill perfectly. His presence would give the Heat the offensive firepower needed to complement their elite defensive prowess, making them one of the most formidable teams in the league.
3. Stephen Curry
Steph Curry has been and will likely always be a Warrior—that is undisputed. However, the future of the Warriors is not as clear-cut. Golden State is navigating two timelines: the older, more experienced champions like Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, and Curry, and a younger group of prospects such as Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody.
The Warriors have been trending downward since winning the championship in 2022, with a second-round exit to the Lakers in 2023 and a disappointing play-in loss to the Kings last season. The team is at a crossroads, made even more uncertain by the potential departure of Klay Thompson.
Curry has expressed his desire to be a “Warrior for life,” but he also acknowledges that “the NBA is a wild environment, and things change quickly.” He has made it clear that he wants to win.
As a four-time NBA champion with only a few years left in his career, the question remains: if Golden State chooses to rebuild and focus on its young core, is it guaranteed that Steph will stick around?
Most legends do not stay with one team—it is a rarity. Even Miami’s finest, Dwyane Wade, left for Chicago in the 2016 offseason. There are two pathways: Curry has two years left on his current contract and is set to be a free agent after the 2025-26 season. Alternatively, if Golden State suspects Curry might leave, they could consider trading him with one year left on his deal.
Acquiring the Hall of Fame point guard would require a significant package. If Golden State acquired Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel’el Ware in a deal for Curry, they would have a core of Podziemski, Kuminga, Jaquez, Ware, and Moody—one of the most exciting young cores in the league.
Steph’s fit with the Heat would be perfect. If you think Duncan Robinson running off Bam’s screens and working the handoff action is scary, imagine if that were Curry instead. The best shooter in the league with arguably the best screensetter would be nearly impossible to contain. Considering Butler and Curry’s age, this would be another all-in play, but Curry fits right into Erik Spoelstra’s offensive sets and would undoubtedly boost the team’s scoring production.
2. Kevin Durant
When Kevin Durant pushed to join the Phoenix Suns, he saw them as a legitimate championship contender. However, since his acquisition at the 2023 trade deadline, the Suns have underperformed, losing in the second round and then suffering a sweep. With the outlook in Phoenix becoming increasingly uncertain, another disappointing season could prompt significant changes.
Durant might be the first to seek a way out if the Suns falter again. Like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, Durant is in the latter stages of his career and is laser-focused on adding more titles to his legacy. He has expressed interest in potentially joining Miami before. During the 2022 offseason, Durant requested a trade and listed the Suns and the Heat as his preferred destinations.
Should Durant eventually part ways with the Suns, the Heat would be a leading contender to land the 14-time All-Star. While acquiring Durant would require Miami to give up considerable assets, the move would undoubtedly extend the Jimmy Butler era. Durant’s presence would relieve Butler of some of the late-game pressure and provide the Heat with efficient scoring on a nightly basis, making them a formidable contender.
1. Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards just led the Minnesota Timberwolves to their first conference finals since 2004, making it seem unthinkable that he would consider leaving. However, there is an under-the-radar story brewing within the Timberwolves organization that could shift the landscape.
A significant ownership controversy is unfolding in Minnesota. Glen Taylor, the current owner, was supposed to sell a majority stake in the Timberwolves to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez in a $1.5 billion deal. However, Taylor has put the sale on hold, claiming that Lore and Rodriguez missed the deadline for the final payment. This development has created uncertainty, mainly because Tim Connelly, the president of basketball operations, joined the Timberwolves under the belief that Lore and Rodriguez would soon take ownership. Taylor’s reputation around the league is contentious, and if the sale to Lore and Rodriguez falls through, it could have serious repercussions. Connelly, who has been instrumental in building the most competitive Timberwolves roster in years, might leave the organization if the ownership situation remains unresolved. His potential departure could have a domino effect, possibly leading to dissatisfaction among players—most notably, Edwards. While Edwards is currently committed to the Timberwolves, the uncertainty surrounding ownership and leadership could plant the seeds for a future departure.
Edwards is fond of Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, and we have seen their relationship develop since last offseason during the 2023 FIBA World Cup. If Edwards were to leave, Miami makes sense as his preferred destination. As the Heat learned with Damian Lillard, that doesn’t guarantee anything. But if the Heat land Edwards, he would fit with Bam’s timeline and make the Heat a threat in the East for years to come.
