Miami Heat Rumors: Update on Dion Waiters' future with the Heat, Goran Dragic unlikely to be traded and more

The Miami Heat entered the 2019-20 season with playoff aspirations and Erik Spoelstra's team has managed to surpass expectations during the opening weeks of the season by posting one of the Eastern Conference's best records.

The Heat have lost just five times during the first six weeks of the campaign, and only the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors have better records in the East.

Jimmy Butler has been excellent since arriving via a sign-and-trade during the offseason, while Miami also has two Rookie of the Year candidates in Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn. Justise Winslow and Bam Adebayo have also made considerable progress during the first month of the season, and the Heat are all set to return to the playoffs following last year's absence.

The Miami front office remains among the most ambitious in the NBA, and both arrivals and departures are likely over the next few months. So, with the season now into December, here we look at all the latest Miami rumors you need to know.

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#1 Dion Waiters is unlikely to play for the Heat again but has little trade value

Dion Waiters has not played for the Heat this season

Dion Waiters has yet to play for the Heat this season after serving two different suspensions. The guard returned from his latest 10-game suspension last week, but Ira Winderman is reporting that the 27-year-old is unlikely to feature for the Heat again. Winderman also believes that Waiters has very little trade value to rival teams.

At the moment, unless there is an injury, I can’t see Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic, Kendrick Nunn or Tyler Herro tailing off to the point where Erik Spoelstra believes it is better to turn to Dion Waiters. And, again, I’m not sure any level of showcasing would increase the trade value of Waiters.

Before his suspension, Waiters had been a regular starter for the Heat over the past three years, averaging 14.0 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.9 rebounds over 120 regular-season appearances.

#2 Goran Dragic likely to remain with the Heat until the end of the season

Goran Dragic has made a big impact from Miami's bench

During the opening hours of the offseason, the Miami Heat agreed to send Goran Dragic to the Dallas Mavericks. However, a deal was called off by the Mavericks over what they cited as miscommunication, and Dragic has since embraced a bench role in Miami and is firmly in contention to be named Sixth Man of the Year.

With less than a year remaining on his deal, Dragic's long-term future in Miami is still far from assured, although a Heat official told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that the organization was happy with Dragic and are glad that he was retained over the summer.

With this in mind, a trade ahead of the deadline appears unlikely, and it is possible that the Slovenian could extend his stay if he is willing to take a pay cut next summer.

#3 The Heat are planning a move for Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo could hit free agency in the summer of 2021

After signing Jimmy Butler during the offseason, the Miami Heat are close to being in win-now mode, although it appears that the team also has eyes on the future. The NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo will become a free agent in the summer of 2021, and the Miami Herald believes that the Heat will preserve cap space in order to make a bid for the 24-year-old:

If Miami is adamant about keeping cap space clear, it means that a trade for Chris Paul or Kevin Love is unlikely as both players have contracts that go into the 2021-22 season.

Antetokounmpo has repeatedly stated his happiness with his situation with the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Heat would also face major competition from almost the entire league for the Greek Freak's signature.