Miami Heat: 3 free agents Miami should have targeted in 2021
By Jack Simone
The Miami Heat had one of the best offseasons in the NBA. They added an All-Star caliber player in Kyle Lowry, as well as solid role players such as PJ Tucker and Markieff Morris.
In addition, they gave Jimmy Butler a massive extension. Miami also re-signed key players such as Duncan Robinson, Victor Oladipo, Dewayne Dedmon, Max Strus, and Gabe Vincent.
Miami put themselves in a great position to win this season, but could they have done better? They brought in some great talent, but should they have put their eggs in a different basket?
What free agents should they have pursued this offseason? Are there any players they should have gone after instead of the ones they ended up signing?
Players the Miami Heat should have targeted: Austin Rivers
Austin Rivers ended up re-signing with the Denver Nuggets. The deal is for one year and is worth around $2.4 million.
The combo guard signed with the Nuggets mid-way through last season and played great for them in the playoffs. He would have been a great help to Miami’s guard rotation.
Miami doesn’t have a backup point guard at the moment, and while Gabe Vincent could end up doing a great job, Rivers would have been an ideal choice.
The skillset he brings to the table is exactly what the Heat are looking for. He’s a scrappy player who hustles on defense and can knock down threes.
At 6-4, Rivers could have spent some time at the one or two for Miami. For the price he signed for, they definitely should have targeted him this summer.