53 wins and the number-one seed in the Eastern Conference wasn’t quite enough in the end for the Miami Heat.
While losing three games at home in their seven-game defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics is hardly ideal, the tidal wave of a season filled with injuries, and untimely absences, eventually had its toll, thus preventing the franchise from reaching the NBA Finals for the seventh time in its history.
This of course leads to the inevitable, being the NBA free agency season. Presently, the Heat have 10 players on their books for the upcoming season, thus presenting a raft of possibilities for the Heat front office in conjunction with the coaching staff. At his annual end-of-season press conference, team president Pat Riley made the following generic statement on free agency and the composition of the team moving forward:
Pat Riley: "We're always going to try to improve the team. ... You can always use more, but it has to be a good fit." Riley said the Heat will "explore" the market like it always does.
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) June 6, 2022
3 veteran free agents for the Miami Heat to target this offseason
And although trade scenarios will be at the top of many conversations, the market for veteran and minimum contracts will also be heavily sought after. This past season, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Dewayne Dedmon, and Victor Oladipo all made valuable contributions for the Heat while earning the league minumum, with Strus starting all 18 playoff games.
Additionally, swingman Caleb Martin provided terrific value after being converted from an initial two-way deal in the early stages of this past season. Hence, low-key signings can often prove to be the key to a successful offseason.
Given their current cap situation, the Heat are likely to be rather limited in regards to their scope of signing prospective free agents. With that in mind, here are three veteran free agents the Heat could potentially sign this summer without breaking the bank.