- Editor’s Note: For the upcoming Sports Illustrated 2026–27 basketball preview magazine that will hit newsstands in October, SI spoke to anonymous scouts around the NBA about all 30 teams.
The Heat finally reeled in a big fish this offseason, making a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo to pair the Greek superstar with Miami’s own Bam Adebayo. Pat Riley is notorious for his desire to hunt stars and finally got his man to lead the franchise into a new era after an unpleasant end to an otherwise successful Jimmy Butler tenure. It was pricy; acquiring the two-time MVP cost the Heat half its rotation, including All-Star Tyler Herro and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Jaime Jaquez Jr. But Riley knows superstars win championships in this league and didn’t hold back in his pursuit of Antetokounmpo.
