Miami Heat: The case to re-sign Kendrick Nunn or let him go
By Jack Simone
Kendrick Nunn blossomed into a quality NBA player over the course of his rookie season. After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat signed him in 2019 and he truly proved he belongs in the league.
Over the last two seasons, Nunn has emerged as a crucial part of Miami’s rotation. He played over 29 minutes per game in both years.
Though he did not put up as many points per game in his sophomore season, he did shoot the ball much more efficiently.
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Last season, he averaged 14.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. Nunn shot 48.5% from the field and 38.1% from three-point range.
He was the fourth-highest scorer on the team last year, behind only Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro. He also had the fifth-highest usage rate on the Miami Heat.
It’s undeniable that his scoring has been an integral part of the offense for the last two years. However, Nunn will enter free agency for the first time this offseason.
Nunn is only 25-years-old and has the potential to improve even more throughout his career. There will likely be a huge market for him in free agency.
While the Miami Heat will have a decent amount of cap space, there is definitely an argument to let him walk. At the same time, replacing Nunn’s scoring could prove to be a tall task.
The Heat have Bird Rights on Nunn this offseason, so they will have the ability to match any offer sheet he receives. The question then becomes, is it worth it?