Miami Heat Predicted to Make Game-Changing NBA Free Agency Move

Miami Heat Predicted to Make Game-Changing NBA Free Agency Move originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Miami Heat and head coach Eric Spoelstra are hoping to get back to being a contender in the Eastern Conference during the 2025-26 NBA season.

Last year, the Heat finished the season with a 37-45 record. They were able to work their way into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the conference through the play-in, but were quickly swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.

So far this offseason, Miami has made a couple of moves. As far as adding outside talent, the big acquisition has been the trade to acquire Norman Powell from the Los Angeles Clippers. Davion Mitchell was re-signed in free agency as well.

While the addition of Powell was a quality move, the Heat could use more.

Keeping that in mind, a major new prediction has been made for Miami. That prediction would see the team sign longtime star guard Russell Westbrook.

Bjorn Bergstrom of PFSN has predicted that Westbrook will end up with the Heat. That move would give Miami much-needed back-court depth and a dynamic presence to lead the second unit.

"With a culture that routinely gets the most out of players, head coach Erik Spoelstra and team president Pat Riley would be inclined to believe they could accentuate Westbrook’s strengths while hiding his flaws," he wrote.

Westbrook is coming off of a 2024-25 NBA season with the Denver Nuggets where he played a key role. He played in 75 games and made 36 starts, averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 44.9% from the floor and 32.3% from 3-point range.

Those numbers would fit nicely with the Heat coming off of the bench.

It's just a prediction at this point. Miami has not been officially reported to have interest in Westbrook, but it's a move that could make sense for both parties.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.