With the start of the regular season just a few days away, this feels like a question that is pretty much off the table at this point. After all, the Heat only have one roster spot left, and free agency in mid-October is not usually fruitful, to say the least.
But there are still options out there. Roster cuts from training camp are happening right now, and there’s pieces that could make a difference for this Heat team.
One place that I think needs help in the short term, at least, is at point guard. Dru Smith is still not guaranteed to be available on opening night, and I’m not sure if using up Tre Donaldson’s two-way games this early in the season is smart, considering how thin the team is at point guard. Or, if Smith is back for the season opener, the Heat could always be in the market for another wing.
So who are the options exactly? Let’s get into a few.
Bruce Brown
This is a tricky one, because he’s not exactly a free agent right now. Bruce Brown and former second overall pick James Wiseman are competing for a final roster spot on the Knicks. However, it seems very likely it will go Wiseman’s way, as the Knicks have more of a need for another center rather than a wing on a team full of quality ones.
Once Brown is waived, he can go wherever he chooses, and I think a contender in Miami would be perfect for someone who’s spent the majority of his career on playoff teams. He’s experienced, defensively focused, and could become even more valuable if he finds his 3-ball again.
Cam Christie
Cam Christie, so far in his NBA career, has done very little to be worthy of an NBA roster spot. He was recently cut by the Clippers after being drafted in the second round by the team in 2024.
While Christie has struggled pretty much everywhere, he’s only 21 years old and was a great 3-point shooter in college. Plus, considering his situation, he likely would not have to even be on a standard contract to begin with. The Heat could get his G League rights either by signing him straight to the Sioux Falls Skyforce or waiving the little-used Vlad Goldin, who’s already 25 and seems to be hanging on by a thread with the organization.
Gabe Vincent
This feels like the obvious choice. Sure, Vincent has not been good since leaving the Heat, but he could very easily find that magic again with the coaching staff that clearly believed in him.
He would very quickly integrate himself into a system that he knows well and could be ready if Dru Smith is, in fact, out. Considering Smith's injury history, it would be best for him not to rush his return.
Of course, none of these guys are absolute game changers. But moves on the margins can always help, and the Heat could absolutely go down these three directions and find success, or just end up waiving/trading them elsewhere. After all, it’s the last roster spot.
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