Heat free agency 2017: Six players Miami should sign

Patrick Patterson

While by no means a star or a marquee signing, there is no denying Patrick Patterson’s importance to the Toronto Raptors over the last three years. His tough defense, steady rebounding and timely 3-point shooting proved extremely valuable to the team’s success. While he finds himself at a crossroads, Patterson would be the type of battle-tested complementary piece the Heat are looking for.

Although Heat legend Udonis Haslem rarely finds himself on the floor anymore, Patterson would bring the type of contributions of Haslem in his prime, aiding the pick-and-roll game with the ability to hit the mid-range jumper and battle on the glass. Defensively, Patterson can defend multiple positions.

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Patterson will surely earn himself a number of offers from contenders, and the Heat may only kick the tires on a deal with the 28-year old if both James Johnson and Dion Waiters decide to take more lucrative deals elsewhere, but Patterson fits in with Pat Riley’s current win-now approach.