This 2026 NBA offseason has gotten off to a terrific start, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and LaMelo Ball finding themselves on new teams. It was the Miami Heat who acquired Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, but despite landing one of the best players in the NBA, they aren’t being looked at as an elite team.
The Heat roster has one too many holes, and they don’t have the cap space to fill all of them in free agency. So, a trade would be a way for them to bring in real quality, and a certain LeBron James has been linked to them lately. Now, landing James as a free agent would be difficult, but a trade is possible, and Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus has put together a three-team deal to make that reunion happen.
Proposed Trade Details
Miami Heat Receive: LeBron James, Bronny James, Bez Mbeng, $10.2 million trade exception (Andrew Wiggins)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Walker Kessler, $6 million trade exception (Jake LaRavia)
Utah Jazz Receive: Deandre Ayton, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia, Dalton Knecht, 2031 first-round pick (LAL), 2033 first-round pick (LAL)
The Heat Create A New Big 3 And Keep Norman Powell
It was 16 years ago in 2010 that the Heat formed a Big 3 of James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, and they are creating another one in 2026 with this deal. James would be teaming up with Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. It’s not quite as great as the first one, but it is still good nonetheless.
What the Heat desperately need after this Antetokounmpo trade is a playmaker. James is 41 years old, but averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in 2025-26. He is still one of the best passers around, and you’d back him to make them tick offensively.
Antetokounmpo and Adebayo are also the kind of defenders you want next to James at this stage of his career. There is a lot to like here.
Now, James would be going to the Heat in a sign-and-trade in this scenario. Pincus has him signing a three-year, $63 million deal. The Heat also bring in Bronny James using the preexisting Haywood Highsmith trade exception to keep him happy and take on Ben Mbeng’s non-guaranteed contract.
The Heat would be executing this trade on July 6, after the NBA’s annual moratorium. Now, Pincus says this deal would also free up enough spending power for them to bring Norman Powell back.
It was seen as a foregone conclusion that Powell would be on his way out after the Antetokounmpo trade, but this three-team deal puts the Heat in a position to bring him back, too. Antetokounmpo, James, Adebayo, and Powell form a pretty good core.
The Lakers Address Two Of Their Big Needs
It was reported after the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 2025-26 season ended that they desire true lob threats at center and two-way defensive wings. Well, this trade gives them what they need.
Walker Kessler averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game for the Utah Jazz in 2025-26. Kessler only played five games last season due to a torn labrum, but he is still an exciting option. He is the kind of defensive anchor you need when your backcourt is Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Andrew Wiggins is another excellent fit next to Doncic and Reaves. Wiggins averaged 15.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game for the Heat in 2025-26. He also shot 41.4% from three, and remains a fine wing defender.
This might be the dream scenario for the Lakers.
The Jazz Replenish Their Draft Capital And Avoid A Huge Commitment
The Jazz made a big move back in February when they acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies. They gave up three first-round picks for Jackson, and are replenishing their draft capital with this deal. The second of those picks from the Lakers could prove especially valuable, as Doncic probably won’t be the dominant force he is today when we get to 2033.
Now, in an ideal world, the Jazz would be keeping Kessler (a restricted free agent), but he has reportedly turned down their five-year, $140 million offer. Giving him much more wouldn’t be ideal, as they already have Jackson and Lauri Markkanen on big deals. Keyonte George will have to be paid at some point as well.
The Jazz avoid making a huge commitment to Kessler with this trade. They get his replacement here, too, in Deandre Ayton. Ayton averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game for the Lakers in 2025-26. He isn’t a top-tier starter, but he is a solid option at a much cheaper rate.
The Jazz also get some decent role players in Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia, and Dalton Knecht. Those draft picks are very much the prize, though.
Who Says No?
The Jazz might be the team saying no to this. While two first-round picks are probably fair compensation for Kessler, they are also taking on Vanderbilt’s bad contract (four-year, $48 million) here. The Jazz would want more value for doing that, as none of the players are worth much.
Knecht had a lot of value at the start of his rookie season, but his stock has dropped tremendously since then. LaRavia is a solid player, but nothing more. Ayton had a chance to rebuild his value last season with the Lakers, but he was up and down. As for Vanderbilt, well, his limitations on offense bring his value down a lot. So, the Jazz would have the right to ask for more.
