Free agent targets for the Miami Heat after the 2023 NBA Draft
4. Keita Bates-Diop
Probably the best player on this list all things considered, Keita Bates-Diop will undoubtedly be one of the best under-the-radar free agents this summer. Lack of flash and pizzazz aside, teams would be hard-pressed to find a more efficient contributor at the forward positions without a substantial financial burden than the 27-year-old.
No one has noticed Bates-Diop rising as a legitimate NBA rotation player due to San Antonio’s forgettable presence in the last couple of seasons. Nevertheless, the journeyman flourished as a low-maintenance cog who can do a lot of things on the court.
KBD’s athleticism lags behind his physical tools, but he has a lot of favorable traits that should fit Miami like a glove — uncanny defensive awareness, willingness to share the ball, keen understanding of spacing and relocating in the perimeter, and smart cutting. Furthermore, he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and is highly efficient from the field (51.1 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from 3 in the last two seasons).
Realistically, Bates-Diop can garner more than the minimum this summer, especially if the Spurs re-up him. However, should his latest club move on, the Heat should do their best to pluck him from a relatively thin free agent crop this year.