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Heat head into great unknown ahead of trade deadline, as Spoelstra cites an NBA 'consistent with constant change'

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun Sentinel on

Published in Basketball

CHICAGO — Even before Thursday’s actual 3 p.m. ET NBA trading deadline, the Miami Heat will come face to face with the deadline Tuesday night with their second stop on this four-game trip, against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.

In the interim between the Heat’s trip-opening Saturday night victory over the San Antonio Spurs and their return to the practice court on Monday, the Bulls offloaded guard Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings and added San Antonio Spurs big man Zach Collins and guard Tre Jones, as well as Kings guard Kevin Huerter, in the trade that sent De’Aaron Fox from the Kings to the Spurs.

Then, in order to complete that transaction, the Bulls on Monday waived forward Torrey Craig and guard Chris Duarte.

As it is, with the Bulls to possibly offload Lonzo Ball and Nikola Vucevic by the deadline, as well, Chicago’s rotation likely will remain a great unknown for the Heat until Tuesday night’s tip-off.

“The most important thing is there’s still basketball, there’s still a task at hand,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after practice at a Chicago community center. “We want to build on our first game of this road trip. We think it’s another opportunity for our team to grow and get better.

“This league is consistent with constant change. And the quicker you can embrace that and stay present, I think gives you an advantage.”

Center Bam Adebayo said that when lineup cards are exchanged between the teams roughly a half-hour prior tip-off, only then will the Heat have a true read on what to expect.

“At this point, you understand that it’s a business and you don’t forget that at any point that it’s a business,” Adebayo said. “For us, it’s going out there and we’ll understand who we’re playing when it’s 35 on the clock. So at that point, you got 35 minutes to wrap your head around whoever we’re competing against.”

While also not taking anything for granted, as the Heat seemingly almost did on Saturday night, when the Spurs were without ill big man Victor Wembanyama.

“It’s a unique challenge, the moving parts,” said guard Duncan Robinson, with the Heat possibly to be in the same position on Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that might be a seller ahead of the deadline. “A lot of times you see guys step up and take advantage of those opportunities. It’ll be a good challenge for us.”

The big deals

 

Two days after Luka Doncic was dealt from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, and a day after the Fox-LaVine deal, there was plenty of remaining buzz at the Heat practice.

“Anybody can be traded,” Robinson said of the Doncic deal. “And if that’s not a stark reminder of that, then I’m not quite sure what is.”

Guard Tyler Herro said the Doncic deal took time to digest as he was digesting.

“I was just chillin’, eating some dinner after the San Antonio game, and it came across my phone,” Herro said. “I was like, ‘Wow, that’s insane.’ It just shows you, this league is expect the unexpected.

“Luka is, obviously, one of the, I thought, one of the most valuable players in this league. So for him to get traded, I think anyone is on the table.”

Spoelstra said he found himself like many in and beyond the league.

“It’s so surprising,” he said. “And then you get to the point in this league where you’re surprised you’re surprised. It’s constantly things that will happen. Obviously this one’s a bigger move than most, that you see. But I’m also fully immersed in the opportunities we have with our team. So I’m spending a lot more time on that.”

Injury report

The Heat are listing Jimmy Butler (suspension), Josh Richardson (heel), Dru Smith (Achilles) and Isaiah Stevens (G League) as out for Tuesday night’s game, with Robinson (hip) listed as probable.

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©2025 South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Visit sun-sentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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