The Boston Celtics taking a flyer on Devin Carter is the exact type of move that you'd come to expect the Miami Heat to make. However, at least on this occasion, it seems as if the Celtics beat the Heat to the punch.
Or the Heat just weren't willing to take on such a gamble.
Why? Who knows. Because, in theory, Carter did seem like a natural target for the Heat. For one reason or another, the Heat decided against pursuing Carter. Or maybe Carter just wanted to sign with the Celtics instead. Either way, it's a move that the Heat fans will remember.
The Heat clearly want a veteran over a reclamation project
Miami still has one open roster spot available to them heading into the start of training camp, and after passing on Carter, it's looking more and more like the front office is going to decide to keep that flexibility heading into the season.
Whether that will prove to be the right move or not remains to be seen. But after Boston's move for Carter, it appears the Heat are more interested in filling this final spot with a veteran (in-season) than a reclamation project (right now).
As the Heat prepare for the first year with Giannis Antetokounmpo, that's not exactly surprising. Especially considering how valuable Pat Riley believes veterans are on contending teams. Miami is likely going to keep that roster spot open for the buyout market.
If the Heat were looking for the ideal reclamation project, they missed one with Carter. A flyer that the Celtics were willing to take, not the Heat.
The Celtics have beaten the Heat to the punch twice this offseason
Interestingly enough, this is the second free-agency move that the Celtics made that the Heat could've easily done. Earlier in the offseason, the Heat were linked to Mike Conley Jr. However, soon after free agency opened, it was reported that Conley had agreed to a deal with the Celtics.
Now, after some speculation that the Heat could be interested in Carter, it's the Celtics who made the move, and not Miami.
We don't know for sure whether the Heat were truly interested in Conley or Carter, but there was some natural speculation there. And it wasn't unfounded speculation either. For both Conley and Carter, though, it will be interesting to see how they pan out for the Celtics.
Because if they emerge as big contributors to the Celtics this season, there are going to be some Heat fans up in arms. Especially considering that the Heat have some big question marks in the backcourt heading into the start of the season.
The decision to pass on Carter could end up being a huge whiff for the Heat. And the fact that Miami wasn't that interested was peculiar. But the Celtics, who were, could end up reaping the rewards after pulling out a page from the Heat's playbook.
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