Miami’s Offseason Overhaul Has the Heat Ready to Compete

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s presser followed at 3:00 p.m. Throughout the presser, he reiterated his work ethic and established his desire to bring championships to the 305, “One of my goals is to win a lot of championships…I think this is the best route for me to do that.”

As much excitement as the trade brings, the four players traded from Miami left a hole in the roster. The Heat’s next mission was to build the perfect team around Giannis and Bam through the draft and free agency.

The Heat Found Value Through the NBA Draft

On June 24, the Miami Heat acquired Ryan Conwell in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder that gave OKC the draft rights to the No. 41 pick and cash. Conwell was drafted at 37th in the second round of the NBA Draft. The Louisville guard averaged 18.8 points in the 34 games played in his senior year.

Conwell absolutely dominated in his Summer League debut. Even though he only played four games, he averaged 20.5 points on 41.7% shooting. His exceptional performance and clear drive and dedication to prove himself impressed the Heat enough to send him back to South Florida, deciding they saw everything they needed to see.

After the draft, Miami quickly signed undrafted Hurricanes guard Tre Donaldson to a two-way contract. Donaldson also shined in Summer League, averaging 13.3 points on 51.4% shooting in the seven games he played. Over the years, the Heat have been known to find the undrafted gems, including players like Udonis Haslem, Duncan Robinson, and Max Strus.

Andrew Wiggins‘ Pay Cut Opens the Door for Miami’s Future

The day before Free Agency opened, June 29, Andrew Wiggins opted into his player option with the Heat and signed an extension on top of that. The option gives him $30 million, but Wiggins decided to take a pay cut in his extension to open up future cap space, giving him $34 million in the following two years. He has a player option again in 2028.

This flexibility is huge for Miami. The Heat hold onto an elite small forward to slot alongside Bam and Giannis while also saving money for the next few years to hopefully build on this team.

Miami’s Free Agency Moves Round Out the Roster

Free agency negotiations began on June 30, with official contract signings beginning on July 6. Despite all the moves they made so far, the Heat had some work left to do.

They started their free agency with the re-signing of forward Simone Fontecchio on a one-year deal for $2.6 million. This contract comes at a much cheaper cost than the contract Fontecchio originally signed with the Heat. The forward had a promising year in Miami, averaging 8.5 points on 41.2% shooting.

Fontecchio shared his thoughts on playing with Giannis this upcoming season, “It’s going to make my life so much easier. I hope to make his life easier too.”

Another big signing the Heat made was former Nugget Tim Hardaway Jr., son of Heat legend Tim Hardaway. The sharpshooter signed a one-year deal for $6.5 million, bringing in strong shooting for a low cost. Hardaway averaged 13.5 points on 44.7% shooting and finished third in the Sixth Man of the Year race.

Despite his father initially saying he wouldn’t allow it, Tim Hardaway Jr. will wear retired his father’s retired No. 10 jersey. It was retired in 2009 to honor his father’s tenure with the franchise from 1996 to 2001. When asked about how he feels about coming home to Miami, Hardaway Jr. stated, “I’ve been dreaming about this for a long time.”

The Miami Heat made several moves this off-season to build the strongest team possible, but they aren’t quite finished. They have about $6.5 million left to sign free agents to finalize the roster, but what free agents are still on the table?

The Heat Still Have Options on the Market

Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks

Despite currently being under contract for the Dallas Mavericks, Klay Thompson has come up as a potential option for the Heat in recent weeks. The Mavericks made several moves this offseason that left them with 16 players under contract, one over the limit. This means they need to eliminate one before the start of the season.

Thompson has emerged as a Maverick who could potentially be traded or bought out this offseason in an attempt to get under the roster limit. The former Splash Brother expects to make over $17 million if not bought out, meaning the Heat would need to send out another contract to make enough cap space to take him in. The Heat are reported to prefer a buyout scenario.

The four-time NBA champion would add winning experience and elite three-point shooting to a championship-hungry Miami Heat. Although he averaged a career-low in points last season, surrounding him with a strong team and coaching staff can be what he needs to light the spark again.

Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers

The 33-year-old is a hot guard on the market after spending the last season with the Los Angeles Clippers. The three-time All-Star is struggling to settle down with a team after spending eleven seasons with the Washington Wizards. His career in Los Angeles ended prematurely after suffering a hip fracture in November last season. Beal underwent surgery soon afterwards.

The Heat have shown interest in Bradley Beal as a final versatile shooting piece to round out their roster. Because of the recent injury and his age, Miami is interested in signing him for a veteran minimum, but with the 305 monitoring the Klay Thompson situation, the interest has been put on pause.

Victor Oladipo, Overseas

Victor Oladipo has become a name to look out for this free agency as he attempts to return to the NBA after spending the last few years overseas. His NBA career halted after he tore his left patellar tendon in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs while on the Miami Heat. Oladipo spent three years playing for Miami.

Oladipo recently held a private workout, and the Miami Heat sent representatives to watch. He also released a statement on X, citing his strong desire to return to the NBA: “I know I have a lot left, and I genuinely love this game. I’d rather show you I’m ready than spend my time trying to explain why or flood you with analytics to prove it.”

No matter how the Miami Heat decide to finish their roster, they’ve proven that they aren’t just looking to ‘run it back.’ From big trades to crucial signings, the Heat are building a roster that is ready to win now, and Heat Nation can’t wait to see the final result.