The Miami Heat could be set up to have some cap space this offseason. It all depends on whether or not they decide to pick up the player options on Goran Dragic and/or Andre Iguodala.
However, with multiple players needing extensions, Pat Riley shouldn’t overspend, either. Both Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn need to be extended, so the money situation could go from good to bad real quick.
With Iguodala likely off the books and Robinson entering restricted free agency, the Heat need wings. On top of that, Trevor Ariza is now a free agent.
Jae Crowder played a huge role in the Miami Heat’s championship run in 2020. His departure left a hole at the wing that Miami was unable to fill.
While finding a player exactly like Crowder is unlikely, simply finding guys to fill out the team’s wing depth is crucial to this team’s success.
Injuries certainly impeded the team last year, but even so they lacked depth. Robinson played a ton of minutes and Ariza filled in well, but it was far from a complete rotation.
There are plenty of solid wings the Heat could look to target this summer. In addition, there are a ton of various skillsets that they could prioritize.
Getting some shooting to put around Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo would be ideal. Taking it a step further, finding some three-and-D players would help even more.
With all that in mind, here are some of the top free agents the Miami Heat could target in free agency without having to break the bank.
Miami Heat option #1: Torrey Craig
Torrey Craig proved his worth during the second half of the season this past year. After being released by the Bucks, the Suns picked him up and he flourished.
In 32 games with the Suns he averaged 7.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists. He shot 50.3% from the field and 36.9% from three-point range.
Craig is the ultimate three-and-D player whose impact doesn’t always show up in the box score. His energy on both ends of the floor is what makes him so valuable.
He is the type of player who would fit into “Heat Culture” perfectly. Craig has had to work extremely hard for everything he’s accomplished and would go to war with the Miami Heat.
Solid three-point shooting and scrappy defense are his main draws, which is exactly what Miami should be looking for. Cheap players that can make an impact on both ends of the floor are hard to come by, but he fits that bill.
Craig’s value certainly went up this past year, but he’s still looking at around $3-$5 million this offseason. However, there’s always a chance that Phoenix overpays him ($5-$7 million) and he stays because he wants to be loyal.
Regardless, the Miami Heat should definitely reach out to him this summer. He would be the perfect bench guy in Miami.
Miami Heat option #2: Georges Niang
This name might not seem super flashy, but it would be the perfect fit. Georges Niang could be one of the best options to help fill out Miami’s bench.
Niang is an elite shooter and reliable defender who spent the last four years with the Jazz. Though he doesn’t average a ton of points, he plays a crucial role in their game plan.
The Jazz emphasize two things in their system – defense and three-point shooting. Niang is extremely solid in both categories.
He averaged 6.9 points and 2.4 rebounds last season in 16.0 minutes per game. The most impressive stats, however, is that he shot 42.5% from deep on 4.1 attempts.
In addition, Niang is a great overall defender. At 6’7” he can hang on the perimeter while also being able to hold his ground down low.
On the team that finished as a top five defense, Niang had the third-best defensive rating (100.3). Though it came in significantly less minutes, he ended the season with a better DRTG than Rody Gobert (100.9).
Niang is also extremely durable. He played in all 83 games the Jazz played this past year, including the postseason.
The Miami Heat could realistically sign him for somewhere around $5-$7 million. However, if the Jazz want to keep him around bad enough, they could pay extra and extend that number out to $8-$10 million.
Miami Heat option #3: Doug McDermott
Not only does Doug McDermott add more shooting around Miami’s stars, but he also provides Duncan Robinson insurance.
If the Heat decide that they don’t want to pay Robinson, McDermott could be a much cheaper replacement. He is an elite three-point shooter, but not to the degree of earning as much as Robinson.
McDermott averaged 13.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists for the Pacers last season. He shot 53.2% from the field and 38.8% from deep.
He has shot above 38% from three-point range every season since 2017. He is one of the most consistent shooters in the league, and took on a larger role last season in Indiana.
As the team dealt with injuries, McDermott was forced to step up. He did so extremely well, averaging career-high scoring numbers.
The only question mark regarding McDermott is how much he will get paid on the open market. Indiana values him a lot, so there is a chance they overpay to keep him in a Pacers uniform.
The Miami Heat could offer around $10-$12 million before the contract becomes an overpay. Unfortunately, the Pacers could be willing to dish out around $15 million.
Regardless, McDermott is certainly worth a look this offseason. His shooting fits in well with the team Pat Riley has put together in Miami.