The Miami Heat reshaped their franchise this offseason by acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Hall of Famer Gary Payton believes another veteran star could make the roster even more dangerous. Speaking with DJ Siddiqi of R.org, the former Heat guard repeatedly pointed to six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan as an ideal complementary piece alongside Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Payton, who won the 2006 NBA championship with Miami, said the Heat should enter the 2026-27 season among the Eastern Conference’s contenders after landing Antetokounmpo. However, he emphasized that building the right supporting cast will ultimately determine whether Miami can compete for another title.
“I think they’re top three,” Payton said. “I think it’s Philly, Boston, and them right now… all of them four teams are going to be the catalyst of the East. It’s going to be Philly, Boston, Miami, and New York.”
He also cautioned that offseason projections only go so far.
“I think everything looks good on paper, but you already know a lot of things happen when you get hurt,” Payton said. “We got to see once they get on the floor. Let’s see what happens.”
Miami enters the new season following one of the biggest roster overhauls in franchise history. The Heat acquired Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from Milwaukee in a blockbuster trade while extending Andrew Wiggins and adding Tim Hardaway Jr. and Ryan Conwell. They are still expected to explore additional veteran additions as they attempt to return to championship contention after finishing 43-39 and missing the 2026 playoffs.
One player frequently linked to Miami is Russell Westbrook, but Payton questioned whether the former MVP is the ideal backcourt fit next to Antetokounmpo.
“I think they need a really, really true point guard,” Payton said. “I think they need somebody who’s going to get the ball to Giannis… I don’t think Westbrook is one of them point guards where he’ll sit around and wait… and hit a jump shot consistently.”
Instead, Payton believes Miami should prioritize a playmaker capable of organizing the offense while providing reliable perimeter shooting.
“I think they need a true point guard who can go make a play, who can create something,” he said. “If he’s sitting over there when Giannis got the ball… he could sit over there and knock down a jump shot on a consistent basis. I think that’s what they need.”
While Payton acknowledged Westbrook’s competitiveness and ability to attack the basket, his strongest endorsement was reserved for DeRozan.
The veteran guard-forward remains one of the NBA’s premier mid-range scorers, and Payton believes his offensive versatility would make life significantly easier for Antetokounmpo.
“But what if you have one of them great shooters mid range right there on the other side?” Payton said. “It’s not going to be too many double downs, because you can’t go off of him.”
Payton also suggested DeRozan could serve as a secondary offensive hub whenever defenses load up on Antetokounmpo.
“You could go through him almost like a KD, a Kevin Durant, when he was at Golden State,” Payton said. “You could go through him and do the things that you have to, even when Giannis is not having a great game. And then, if they start doubling on DeMar, kick it to Giannis, and he’ll start attacking.”
