Miami Heat: Kawhi Leonard is a main target in free agency

The Miami Heat are expected to make a push for Kawhi Leonard this offseason, according to league sources. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer first reported this news on July 1.

The Clippers were recently eliminated in the Western Conference Finals vs the Suns. However, Leonard missed significant time due to a knee injury.

With the defeat, the Clippers have now failed to make the Finals in two straight seasons. Hopes were high when Paul George and Leonard joined the team in 2019, but they have not yet met the expectations of a championship.

Despite this, Leonard has had two extremely successful years in Los Angeles. He helped lead the Clippers to two solid regular seasons, but neither translated to a Finals appearance.

This past season, he averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Leonard shot 51.2% from the field and 39.8% from deep.

He has a player option in his contract for next season. If he chooses to opt out, he would become an unrestricted free agent.

In addition to the Heat, the Dallas Mavericks are expected to make a strong push to sign Leonard. If he wants a change of scenery, either team would be a great option.

If Leonard joined the Miami Heat, it would solidify them as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. A big three of Leonard, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo could rival any other roster in the league.

In order to sign Leonard, the Heat would have to decline the player options for Goran Dragic and Andre Iguodala. This would immediately clear up around $34 million in cap space.

Unfortunately, Leonard will garner a max contract. This means the Miami Heat would have to find more cap space elsewhere.

Renouncing the rights on Omer Yurtseven is a small start, but even more sacrifices would have to be made. Re-signing players would become a lot harder.

Both Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn are restricted free agents. If the Miami Heat signed Leonard, there’s a chance that both would have to be let go.

The Heat have the ability to match contracts for either, but that could put them into trouble with the hard cap if they signed Leonard.

So with that in mind, the question becomes about what the Heat value more – star power or depth. Signing Leonard gives them star power, but costs them a bunch of depth.

If Dragic wanted to sign a team friendly deal, retaining him could be possible; and the same goes for both Robinson and Nunn. However, with the amount Leonard will earn, all of those scenarios are highly unlikely.

Is it worth it for the Miami Heat to sign Leonard? Or should they continue down the path they are on and re-sign their important rotational pieces?