The Miami Heat and New York Knicks, two teams that rolled into the 2026-27 season with sky-high expectations, have combined for exactly zero wins in seven games. Let that sink in for a second: seven games played, zero victories. Miami brought in former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster July trade, and the Knicks are fresh off their first championship in 53 years. You’d think they’d be soaring, right? Instead, they are crashing hard, and this brutal early form has already sparked talk of a massive, early-season trade that would shake up the whole league.
Miami’s Giannis Bet Is Already Backfiring
Remember when Heat president Pat Riley was playing hardball, reportedly asking for eight picks and San Antonio Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama just to trade Bam Adebayo back in April? Man, things change fast. That was before the Heat went all-in on Antetokounmpo, a move that, while bringing in an MVP, stripped away significant shooting and playmaking from their roster. Adebayo and Giannis on defense? That’s a devastating pairing, no doubt. But if the offense can’t put points on the board, this 2026-27 campaign is going to be a long, painful slog.
Adebayo’s 16.2 points per game and 31.4 percent from three just aren’t cutting it for a team that desperately needs offensive punch. Sure, he stunned the world with an 83-point game last year, but that kind of scoring is not his norm. Enter Karl-Anthony Towns. The guy is nowhere near Adebayo defensively, but his 22.7 points and 39.8 percent shooting would immediately change Miami’s offensive spacing. Miami is already close to its $209 million first-apron hard cap, though. They’d need to include Tim Hardaway Jr., who hasn’t been shooting well, once his December 15 trade restriction lifts. An immediate fix to stop the bleeding would require a player like Andrew Wiggins, Bobby Portis, or Davion Mitchell instead, along with a third team to help ease New York’s cap issues. The cultural shift from Adebayo to Antetokounmpo was on when they made that Giannis deal, but the scoring problem is a nightmare.
New York’s Championship Hangover Comes With a Hefty Price Tag
The Knicks just won it all, right? A championship in 53 years! You’d expect them to be riding high, but they are not defending that title well at all. Aside from swapping Andre Drummond for Mitchell Robinson, it’s the same core roster, so what gives? Turns out, the fans won’t be happy with the real reason behind this trade idea: it’s all about the money. The championship vibes got completely derailed this offseason when Towns and the front office couldn’t agree on a contract extension. Towns, almost 31, was willing to opt out of his $61 million player option for 2027-28 to lock in a new deal starting near $50 million. The Knicks, though, tabled those discussions, leaving Towns frustrated. And it’s not just him; Josh Hart is also waiting for his next deal. You can’t blame the players for torching chemistry when the organization doesn’t reward them after delivering a title. Oh, and let’s not forget the championship ring “mistake” where assistant coaches and employees got a phishing email instead of a celebration. Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up.
Putting all that off-court drama aside, Adebayo, at 29, offers the Knicks a fixed cost of $53.4 million for 2027-28, followed by a player option at $57.4 million. They’d have time before needing to recommit to him, and let’s be real, Adebayo is significantly better than Towns defensively. Towns has a $61 million player option for 2027-28, and he’s going to opt out if he gets a viable extension. He and the Knicks have hit an impasse, with New York reportedly stopping at a $200 million offer over four additional seasons, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. If the Heat get Towns, they could offer a similar annual rate, like $150 million over three years, starting at around $47.6 million, which is almost $6 million below Adebayo’s salary next season.
These two teams are desperate. The Knicks have a championship hangover mixed with contract drama, and the Heat can’t buy a win with Giannis. It’s only early in the season, but the pressure cooker is already at max, and a major move seems almost inevitable if things don’t turn around, fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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