As we inch closer and closer to the start of NBA Free Agency, a few of the Miami Heat's post-Giannis Antetokounmpo targets are coming into focus. There's one name that the Heat are already being linked to that should be at least some cause for concern.
According to a recent report, the Heat are interested in signing Mike Conley Jr. when free agency opens. If that is indeed the case, it could be a strong indication that the Heat's early build around Giannis could already be getting off on the wrong foot.
Mike Conley Jr. should not be a priority for the Heat
With all due respect to Conley, it's hard to envision how he's the type of player who's going to make a huge difference for the Heat on the floor.
Taking his career in a snapshot, Conely has had a great run in the Assocation. However, as a soon to be 39-year-old, he's just not a target that the Heat should have as they craft out how to build around Giannis.
At this point in his career, Conley is likely more valuable as an assistant coach than he is a player. But, again, that's not a knock on Conley individually, but that just speaks to his age and how much the NBA is a young man's game now.
Last season with the Wolves, Conley averaged just 4.5 points on 34 percent shooting from the field. He played sparingly in the playoffs for Minnesota, but didn't make a huge difference.
I suppose the argument is that Conley would be a great locker room presence and he would bring some much-needed veteran leadership around Giannis, but, at the same time, does Miami want to burn one of their roster spots on a player who is unlikely to see the court much?
Can they afford to burn a roster spot on Conley if they only see him as a locker room presence?
The Heat should be targeting young, athletic pieces around Giannis
Mainly, this is about the type of player the Heat may be targeting and not necessarily on Conley himself. Miami should not be looking for veteran pieces on their last legs, looking to win a ring. And that's almost exactly what Conley is at this point in his career.
Instead, the Heat should be looking to win on the margins by targeting athletic young players who have fallen through the cracks. Players who have the opportunity to earn you more on the investment.
With all due respect to Conley at this point in his career, it's hard to envision how his return is going to outearn the investmentit's going to take to bring him in.
If Miami is indeed going to prioritize veteran players whose best days are clearly behind them, then perhaps this build around Giannis is already getting off to a rocky start. Sure, I suppose it's only right to wait and see how free agency turns out for Miami, but the optics of this reporting are not great.
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