3 Shocking free agent signings that actually make sense for the Miami Heat

The Miami Heat are still waiting for the Damian Lillard trade to be completed. The Heat appear to be the frontrunners to land the superstar at this point, but anything could happen. Portland’s GM Joe Cronin has said that he is willing to wait months for the right trade.

This would significantly limit what the Heat are able to do in free agency. Right now, they are basically limited to veterans on minimum salaries and adding talent on the margins.

That being said, there are still some valuable role players on the market that Miami could add to their team. Some of these signings would be shocking if they happened but could add depth to Miami’s roster. Here are three free agents the Heat should at least consider signing.

Kendrick Nunn

There are still many ex-Heat players available on the market. This one would be the most surprising, but possibly also the most rewarding.

Kendrick Nunn left the Heat in the summer of 2021 and signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury and missed his first season with the Lakers. The next season, he did not have nearly as many opportunities as he had in Miami. His minutes were half of what they were in Miami and his shooting percentages dropped.

Nunn clearly was his best in Miami. Now, he might have a chance to return to the team on a minimum salary and prove himself to earn a bigger bag.

The move makes sense for the Heat. They already added Josh Richardson this offseason, which shows they have no problem adding former players. Depending on what a Lillard trade looks like, the Heat might need a backup point guard. If they trade Kyle Lowry, they will certainly need one. If they do not get Lillard at all, they will also still need a solid backup guard.

Nunn played the role of a shot-creating backup guard when the Heat reached the NBA Finals in 2020. With the absence of Gabe Vincent, it makes sense for Miami to find a player of a similar skillset to fill the void.

Danny Green

Heat fans probably remember the terror Danny Green caused when he torched the team in the 2013 NBA Finals as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. At 36 years old, Green is far from the player he used to be in the sense that he can no longer give you 30 minutes a game. However, he can still give you a solid 10-15 minutes each game.

Green has not lost his 3-point stroke. Last season, he shot 44.8% on 3s. The Heat lost two starters this offseason, who were also two of their key shooters. Green could add a 3-point boost to a team that ranked last in 3-pointers last season.

If the Heat lose Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson in a Lillard trade, the need for shooters will be even greater. Green could be a great low-cost signing for them.

T.J. Warren

If the Heat sign T.J. Warren, it would be a risk in many different ways. First, Warren has been struggling with injuries since the 2020-21 season. He has not looked quite the same over the past few seasons.

The second major risk is the history he has with members of the Heat. He has known beef with Jimmy Butler; their rivalry took center stage during the 2019-20 season. The Heat pride themselves on being one of the most unified teams in the league. They do not need any locker room drama.

That being said, the rewards could be tremendous. In his last healthy season, Warren averaged 19.8 points per game and became one of the biggest surprises in the Bubble. If Warren can show signs of the player he used to be, he could be an asset for Miami, who could use his scoring upside. That could be a huge bargain for a player on a minimum salary.