Miami Heat: Top 6 Free Agent Signings of this Past Decade

5. Chris “Birdman” Andersen

Coming off of their first championship in 2012, the Miami Heat got out to somewhat off a slow start, getting killed on the boards and frankly needing to inject a bolt of energy into the team. That’s what Miami got when they signed Chris Andersen.

Anderson improved Miami’s rebounding and energy. It also gave Miami a big man who could run the floor well and help out Miami’s vertical spacing.

After he joined the Heat, they went their 27-game winning streak, going 37-3 overall in the regular-season games in which Andersen played. Andersen shot 15-15 in Games 1-5 against the Indiana Pacers in the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals.

This included a 7-for-7 performance in Game 1 of that series, which set a franchise playoff record, besting the 6-for-6 mark by Alonzo Mourning in 2007. Anderson was crucial in that Indiana series and along the rest of the way to the Miami Heat’s second title of the Big 3 era.

4.Ray Allen

At a time when the Miami Heat were looking for more range shooting and firepower off the bench, they were fortunate enough to land an NBA great. They got all that they wanted when they were able to sign Ray Allen in 2012.

Averaging 10.9 points while shooting 41.9 from three off the bench, the Allen signing was a home run way before he did what he will most be remembered for in a Miami Heat uniform. With Miami signing Allen though, it gave them another veteran and voice in an already extremely professional locker room when they needed to be.

Back to what he will most be remembered for though in Miami and just for kicks, of course, you have to remember that Allen hit one of the biggest shots ever in NBA Finals history with Miami, right? You know, the one that goes “rebound Bosh, back out to Allen, his three-pointer… BANG!”. Yea, that one.