The Miami Heat are going to have a busy week ahead of them as free agency opens up on Monday, August 2nd at 6:00 p.m. They have tons of decisions to make as they attempt to fill out their roster.
With high hopes, Pat Riley will try to put the Miami Heat in the best position possible to win. They not only will try to sign new players but have to retain their current ones as well.
It is bound to be a crazy week full of surprising news and rumors. Within all the madness, however, Miami has to remember to prioritize its areas of need.
Signing a starting-caliber center is obviously not at the top of their priority list. What are the top areas of need for the Miami Heat this offseason?
Miami Heat areas of need #3: Players that can score the basketball
This sounds super generic, but there are certain types of players who are just built to be a scorer. The Miami Heat don’t have anyone like that on the roster right now outside of maybe Kendrick Nunn.
With Nunn entering restricted free agency, the Heat should look to add some players who can go out there and get buckets. Someone who can average 12-15 points per game with ease.
Some prime examples who could be gettable this offseason are Terrence Ross and Lou Williams. Either one of those players would provide a nice infusion of scoring into the lineup.
The Miami Heat were one of the worst teams in the league when it came to points per game last year. Hopefully, they can change that by adding the right pieces ahead of next season.
Miami Heat areas of need #2: Quality guard depth
By the time the season starts, there’s a serious possibility that the Miami Heat’s guard rotation could look completely different. They might end up losing their two best point guards this offseason.
Both Goran Dragic and Kendrick Nunn could be on the way out this summer. Dragic has a massive team option which the Heat have to decide what to do with, and Nunn will be a restricted free agent.
If both of those players end up elsewhere, Miami needs to add some guards to the roster. If they don’t, the only players they’d have at the position would be Tyler Herro, Gabe Vincent, and Maz Strus.
All the rumors point to them going after Kyle Lowry in free agency. That would be a great addition, but they would have to sign backups as well.
Lowry would surely be the starter, but other players they could target include Langston Galloway, Austin Rivers, and Alex Caruso. Picking up any of those players in free agency would be great.
The Heat could also pick up some rookies that they signed to play in the Summer League. Players such as Javonte Smart, DeJon Jarreau, AJ Lawson, and Marcus Garrett are all solid options.
Miami Heat areas of need #1: Shooting, shooting, and more shooting
The Miami Heat were one of the worst teams in the NBA last season when it came to three-point shooting. They need shooting more than anything else this offseason.
If it weren’t for Duncan Robinson they would have been third-worst in the NBA in three-point shooting. He can’t do it all, even if it seems as though he can at times.
The Heat have to sign shooters at every position this offseason. If they want to build a championship team around Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, this has to be the top priority.
Neither Butler nor Adebayo is a great three-point shooter. In order to effectively space the floor, the Heat need to put as many shooters as they can around them.
Players such as Evan Fournier and Tim Hardaway Jr. could be some bigger fish to go after. Past that, though, there are still some solid cheap options to target as well.
Wayne Ellington and Tony Snell would be great options that could be signed for the minimum. Regardless, anybody that can shoot should be a target for the Miami Heat this offseason.
A bonus would be finding a big man that can shoot and space the floor. Pat Riley has to get the Miami Heat some shooters.