The 2025–26 NBA trade deadline has officially passed, and the league is entering its crucial home stretch, but that hasn’t stopped the Miami Heat fanbase from indulging in their favorite annual tradition: chasing the next superstar whale.
Even though Miami no longer faces the Minnesota Timberwolves this season — having already lost both matchups — the Timberwolves remain firmly on the Heat’s radar for reasons extending far beyond the standings or direct competition.
This renewed obsession stems from a pair of viral videos circulating across social media featuring Minnesota superstar Anthony Edwards, whose casual comments about Miami sent Heat fans spiraling into yet another cycle of hope, speculation and Photoshopped jersey fantasies.
Heat fans have endured their share of heartbreak over the past decade, repeatedly watching star players like Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo dominate rumor cycles only to ultimately land somewhere else while Miami’s roster remained largely intact.
It has been seven long years since the Heat’s last major star acquisition — the trade for Jimmy Butler in 2019 — which only amplifies the fanbase’s desire for a new franchise-altering arrival who could elevate Miami back into perennial championship contention.
Because of this extended drought, the Heat fanbase has become notorious across the NBA for fueling the most persistent superstar-chasing culture in the league, never missing an opportunity to imagine the next iconic player donning a Miami uniform.
So when a new clip emerged of Edwards sharing a warm embrace with Miami All-Star Norman Powell during a Feb. 23 meeting in San Francisco, Heat fans immediately pounced on the moment as a potential sign of future possibilities.
In the video, Edwards can be heard smiling and asking Powell, “You like Miami? S— look like a vibe,” a lighthearted comment that instantly ignited speculation across Heat Twitter and beyond, as fans interpreted it as a subtle hint of curiosity toward South Florida.
The clip was reposted by the popular NBACentral account, which boasts more than two million followers, ensuring the moment reached a massive audience and triggering a frenzy of reactions ranging from excitement to cautious optimism to outright delusion.
Of course, context matters, and multiple factors make an imminent Edwards-to-Miami scenario extremely unlikely, starting with the fact that Edwards is under contract with Minnesota through the 2028–29 season, giving the Timberwolves long-term security.
Moreover, Edwards has not publicly expressed any significant frustration with the Timberwolves franchise — certainly not to the extent seen with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee — and Minnesota remains firmly competitive, sitting tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for fifth place in the loaded Western Conference.
Beyond team performance, there are also structural league considerations. With the NBA actively discussing potential expansion to cities like Las Vegas and Seattle, Minnesota is viewed as a possible candidate to shift to the Eastern Conference, which would clear Edwards’ path to the NBA Finals even without switching franchises.
Still, the possibility of Edwards shining in a bigger and more glamorous market lingers as an intriguing backdrop to all conversations, especially considering Miami’s unique appeal among elite stars who crave both competitive stability and lifestyle advantages.
Importantly, Edwards has long held a deep admiration for Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, forged during their time together with Team USA, where Spoelstra served as a top assistant coach and developed strong relationships with several rising league superstars.
Now that Spoelstra is taking over as the head coach of USA Basketball, Edwards is expected to be one of the program’s primary faces over the next three years, setting the stage for further mentorship and connection between the two.
It was Spoelstra who famously compared Edwards to Miami legend Dwyane Wade in 2023, saying: “It’s hard to look at Anthony Edwards and not see Dwyane Wade… The way he moves, competes and electrifies the crowd. Yes, that reminds me of number 3.”
For a franchise whose identity was shaped by Wade’s charisma, explosiveness and leadership, those comments carried significant weight and only fueled Miami’s long-standing admiration for the Timberwolves superstar.
Even so, Miami hasn’t abandoned its long-term pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and they will continue monitoring his situation until he either signs an extension or is traded elsewhere — a near-obsession that has defined multiple Heat offseasons.
If Edwards were ever to force his way out of Minnesota, the logical destination might be Atlanta, his hometown, where he maintains deep personal roots and where local fans have long dreamt of bringing him home as the franchise centerpiece.
But none of these realities are enough to discourage the Heat fanbase, which remains one of the NBA’s most persistent and hopeful groups when it comes to stalking available — and unavailable — superstar talent.
To Heat fans, the mere hint of curiosity from Edwards was enough to reignite the franchise’s trademark “whale hunting” spirit, a pursuit they’ve embraced for decades under Pat Riley’s front-office leadership.
Looking ahead, Edwards may become the league’s next major name to watch, especially as his superstardom continues to rise and the NBA’s shifting landscape opens the door to hypothetical futures in larger markets.
Even if the odds are slim, Miami fans will keep their binoculars trained on the Timberwolves star, waiting for any small sign that a new era might someday begin in South Beach.
Because in Miami, hope — even irrational hope — never dies.
