NBA trade season unofficially begins Sunday. What it means for the Heat.

Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald on Dec 14, 2024

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MIAMI — The NBA’s trade season unofficially kicks off on Sunday.

That’s because nearly 20 percent of the league becomes eligible to be dealt this weekend, with 85 players who signed new contracts this past offseason becoming eligible to be traded on Sunday.

For the Heat, Thomas Bryant, Alec Burks and Kevin Love can be traded starting on Sunday after signing new contracts with the team in free agency this past summer.

The Heat has already agreed to trade Bryant to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a 2031 swap of second-round picks, according to league sources. The deal was agreed to on Friday, but it can’t become official until Sunday when Bryant becomes eligible to be traded.

There are still a few other players on the Heat’s roster who can’t be traded yet. That short list includes Bam Adebayo and Haywood Highsmith.

Adebayo becomes eligible to be dealt on Jan. 6 — six months after signing his three-year, $165 million extension on July 6.

Highsmith becomes eligible to be traded on Jan. 15 since he was re-signed by the Heat this past offseason using Bird Rights with a raise above 20 percent from his previous salary.

The rest of the Heat’s roster is already eligible to be traded.

The Heat’s next game is Monday against the Pistons in Detroit.

Bam making Heat history

At Adebayo’s current pace, he and Dwyane Wade could end up as No. 1 and No. 2 as the Heat’s all-time career leaders in categories like two-point field goals made, free throws made, assists, steals and points, among others. Adebayo also appears to be on his way to overtaking Udonis Haslem as the Heat’s all-time leading rebounder within the next five seasons.

In Thursday’s home win over the Toronto Raptors, Adebayo recorded the 205th double-double of his NBA career to tie Alonzo Mourning for the second-most double-doubles in Heat history. Only Rony Seikaly has turned in more double-double performances (221 double-doubles) than them while in a Heat uniform, but Adebayo could pass Seikaly this season to become the franchise leader in double-doubles.

“It’s just the dedication to the craft, and then obviously I love what I do and being able to be in situations where you can be top three or No. 1 in most of the categories in franchise history,” Adebayo said Thursday after tying Mourning for the second-most double-doubles in Heat history. “That just speaks to the type of player that I am and this organization giving me the opportunity.”

Injury report

Heat forward Nikola Jovic sprained his left ankle during Saturday’s practice and his status for Monday’s matchup against the Pistons is up in the air. Jovic missed two games earlier this month with a sprained left ankle before returning to be available for the last four games.

In addition, Heat guard Pelle Larsson was a limited participant in Saturday’s practice after missing the last three games with a sprained right ankle.

Heat guard Josh Richardson did not practice Saturday after receiving an injection in his troublesome heel on Wednesday. Richardson will miss Monday’s game against the Pistons because of right heel inflammation and is set to be re-evaluated next week.

The Heat’s full injury report for Monday’s contest in Detroit will be released on Sunday.

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