The Miami Heat could find themselves with a decent amount of cap space this offseason. Depending on their internal decisions, they could have room for a max free agent.
Goran Dragic and Andre Iguodala both have team options this summer. Declining both of them would free up over $30 million in cap space from that alone.
Add in the fact that they will likely let some free agents walk, and the team will have some wiggle room. This leads to one simple question – who should they look to sign?
There are a bunch of different directions the Miami Heat could go in this offseason. Realistically, they could use a bit of help at every position.
Guards, wings, and big men alike would be able to make a strong contribution to this Heat roster. Luckily, there are some solid options available at each position.
Due to this, it’s important to take a look at a wide variety of free-agent options. Who is the best player the Miami Heat should target at every position?
PG – Kyle Lowry
Kyle Lowry would provide a great veteran presence. His scrappy defense and competitive nature would fit in perfectly with Heat Culture.
In addition, he’s an amazing playmaker – something the Heat haven’t had at the point guard position in a while. He also is a solid shooter and can score from multiple spots on the floor.
Ideally, the Miami Heat would be able to sign Lowry for around $25 million per season. This way, they don’t break the bank too much but get an All-Star quality player.
The Toronto Raptors are expected to go in a younger direction, meaning he should be available. This seems like the perfect match.
The Miami Heat could use an infusion of talent at the wing. Who are some options that also wouldn’t break the bank?
SG – Evan Fournier
Evan Fournier is the perfect player for the Miami Heat to target this offseason. Last season they struggled to score the ball, and Fournier does exactly that.
The Boston Celtics traded two second-round picks for him last year. However, he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
He averaged 17.1 points last season while shooting 45.7% from the field and 41.3% from deep. This sort of efficient scoring is exactly what the Heat could use on the roster.
Fournier can get his own buckets but also plays well off of others. His ability to do a little bit of everything would fit nicely next to Jimmy Butler on the wing.
SF – Otto Porter Jr.
Otto Porter Jr. would be a great piece to add to the Miami Heat’s roster. Though he’s not a superstar talent, he would help add more depth to the rotation.
Kawhi Leonard is a name that has been thrown around in recent weeks. While that would be amazing, this idea is a bit more realistic, and a whole lot cheaper.
Porter Jr. was traded midway through last season from the Bulls to the Magic. He’s an efficient three-point shooter who has always been a solid scorer.
He won’t hurt the team too much on the defensive end, and his scoring would be a big help. The best part, however, is that he’ll likely only garner around $10-$12 million on the open market at best.
Not every signing has to be flashy. The Miami Heat could look to bring in a veteran big man that would add versatility to their rotation.
PF – Paul Millsap
Paul Millsap is a great example of a cheap veteran that would play his role to perfection. He may be 36-years-old, but Millsap still knows how to win basketball games.
He averaged nine points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists last season. Millsap shot 47.6% from the field and 34.3% from deep.
At 6-7, Millsap is the perfect stretch four to pair alongside Bam Adebayo or to bring off the bench. He’s always been a versatile defender and has developed a fairly reliable three-point shot in recent years.
Since he is on the older side, he won’t cost a ton of money to sign. Bringing him on board is an inexpensive option that would still help bolster the rotation.
C- Daniel Theis
Daniel Theis can play the four and the five but is at his best when he’s the only big man on the floor. This would allow him to play next to Bam Adebayo if necessary, but also be the center for the second unit.
Since they lost Kelly Olynyk last season, the Miami Heat could be on the hunt for a new stretch big man. Theis would definitely provide this skillset.
He shoots 33.5% from deep for his career and is also a solid interior defender. The Bulls will have his Bird Rights this offseason, but with their sights set on bigger targets, the Heat could steal him out from under them.
Theis would definitely be on the cheaper side of things, too. He’s another example of someone who won’t break the bank but can still make an impact on winning.