21 Free-agent targets for Miami Heat at veteran minimum in 2024
By Wes Goldberg
Minimum-level small forward targets for the Heat
Cedi Osman: A do-it-all forward who could help fill out any bench with shot-making, length and decent passing chops, Osman would be a solid if unspectacular addition.
Gordon Hayward: It’s fair to say it didn’t work out for Hayward in Oklahoma City last season, with Thunder GM Sam Presti admitting that trading for him was a mistake. Well… Hayward will surely be looking for an opportunity elsewhere. The Heat have been known to help over-the-hill vets wring the most out of the twilight of their careers.
Justin Holiday: The 35-year-old can still make 3s (40.4% last season) and play defense. He also never gets hurt, which would be a change of pace for the Heat’s roster.
Kessler Edwards (restricted): Edwards is what he is – a stiff 6-foot-8 forward who defends and make 3s (38.5% last season). In February of 2022, Edwards played 30 minutes on an injured Nets team and put up 13 points, five rebounds, three steals and a block. Maybe they remember. He’s only 23.
Jordan Nwora: If the Heat are looking for Caleb Martin 2.0, look no further than Nwora. He’s a 6-foot-8, 225 pound athlete who needs to shoot and defend more consistently, but those were the same knocks on Martin when he signed in Miami a few years ago. He’ll be 26 next season and averaged 9.6 points on 49% shooting (34.3% on 3s), 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in the final 21 games for a listless Raptors team last season.