5 Free agents who should be on the Heat's summer wish list
By Wes Goldberg
Jonas Valanciunas
The Pelicans center is making $15 million this year, but he’s nearly 32 and could look to chase a ring on a contending team in an easier conference. If he’s willing to take the taxpayer mid-level exception (worth more than $5 million) then he should be at the top of Miami’s wishlist.
Valanciunas is big (6-foot-11, 265 pounds), can shoot 3s (career 35.7%) and looks like Travis Kelce. The trifecta.
He would be a legitimate floor-spacing center who can provide size near the rim and allow Bam Adebayo to roam on defense. He’s also among the better rebounders in the league.
A lineup of Valanciunas, Adebayo, Butler, Herro and Rozier would be one of the better starting fives in the East and give the Heat the ability to play big as well as small by sliding Adebayo to center when Valanciunas is on the bench.