Tracy McGrady believes the Miami Heat could have more roster changes ahead after acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo.
During the Sept. 23 episode of “Cousins,” McGrady, Vince Carter and guest Lou Williams were discussing the Eastern Conference when Williams brought up Miami’s acquisition of Antetokounmpo. McGrady offered a brief assessment of where the Heat might go next.
“I don’t think they’re done,” McGrady said.
He did not name a player Miami could pursue or describe an impending deal. His comment was an opinion about the team’s direction, rather than a report that another transaction was taking shape.
Still, there is room to examine the idea. Miami has an opening on its standard roster, and its ability to change the supporting cast extends beyond the weeks before the season begins.
Miami has a roster opening, but another blockbuster would carry a cost
The Heat have 14 players on standard contracts, one below the regular-season maximum. They also have three two-way players and two players on Exhibit 10 contracts.
That distinction matters after Miami claimed Bez Mbeng on an Exhibit 10 deal. The camp addition does not, by itself, mean the Heat have filled their final standard-contract opening.
It gives Miami another player to evaluate before deciding what its regular-season roster should look like. An available spot gives the Heat a way to add depth.
It does not establish that another star is obtainable, or that the team would improve by filling the spot immediately. Miami already paid a substantial price for its biggest move.
The Heat’s official trade announcement listed Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis among the outgoing players, along with three first-round picks, a first-round swap and a second-round pick. Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis came to Miami.
Those departed players and picks cannot be offered again. Any proposal for another major acquisition has to begin with what Miami still holds and weigh the value of the incoming player against the rotation pieces it would surrender.
There is a basketball question to answer first, too: What kind of help would make the biggest difference? Another ball handler could reduce the burden of creating offense, while a wing capable of defending and making open shots could give Erik Spoelstra more choices late in games.
Those are different needs, and one signing would not necessarily address both. Miami has already invested in shooting.
In 2025-26, Klay Thompson made 202 threes at 38.3 percent. The next evaluation is how those skills work together.
A lineup’s spacing depends on who shares the court, and an extra creator has to offer enough away from the ball to fit alongside Antetokounmpo. Camp and preseason can help Miami identify which compromise it can live with.
The group has already come together for a player-run offseason gathering. Those early sessions can help teammates get comfortable, but evaluating the combinations against outside competition is a separate step.
The Heat’s options also extend to next summer
There is a longer-term dimension to McGrady’s prediction, even though he offered no timetable.
In a Sept. 23 report, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson outlined Miami’s potential access to a projected $15.8 million nontaxpayer midlevel exception in 2027. He also reported that Davion Mitchell is entering the final season of his contract and that the Heat could use his Bird rights to re-sign him without spending that exception.
That creates choices, not an unlimited budget. Jackson noted that retaining Mitchell and using the entire exception could require Miami to exceed the luxury tax threshold.
The exception is a spending mechanism; it should not be confused with ordinary cap space or treated as money available to use this fall.
For the Heat, the coming season can serve two purposes: compete with the roster they assembled and establish which supporting roles need more investment. Keeping a player who fits well could be as valuable as adding a new name.
McGrady’s remark leaves those possibilities open. Miami has ways to keep adjusting, but the next meaningful move will depend on the need that emerges, the players available and the price of addressing it.
