The Trade: Miami Heat acquire Kyle Kuzma from the Washington Wizards for Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jović, Josh Richardson and a 2030 first-round pick (protected 1-10)

There aren’t many teams who’ve earned the benefit of the doubt like the Heat have, but it’s hard to see how they’re going to do much better than last year’s first-round elimination if they run it back with roughly the same core and projected starting five.

Maybe a healthy season from Tyler Herro will help, and perhaps Bam Adebayo will finally turn into a moderate-volume three-point shooter. Then again, Jimmy Butler is a year older and approaching free agency, and it’s not easy to find clear growth candidates anywhere else on the roster.

Kuzma is a demonstrated 20-point scorer with championship experience in his not-so-distant past. Stranded in Washington these past three years, he comes with the standard “good stats, bad team” concerns, but that might also mean the Heat could expect efficiency gains from him in a more functional, talent-rich environment.

The 28-year-old forward is on a declining contract and offers a ton of what Miami’s offense, which ranked 21st last season, needs. A capable self-creator, solid passer (4.2 assists per game in 2023-24) and good enough catch-and-shoot threat (35.5 percent last year) to draw attention, Kuzma could juice the Heat’s attack and take over a starting gig from Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr. or Tyler Herro, depending on what Erik Spoelstra thinks his first unit needs most.

The Wizards could push for swap rights in 2026 and 2028 if they don’t want to wait so long for a pick to convey, or if they don’t like the protections on the 2030 selection they’re getting. But Jović is the kind of young, developmental piece Washington should chase, and Robinson could be flipped for value at this trade deadline or the next.