(Photo via Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports)
The Miami Heat were left with 14 of a possible 15-man roster following their trade for Norman Powell. Both Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson departed as part of the brilliant move by Pat Riley, Andy Elisburg and the Heat front office.
But the team can benefit from filling that one remaining open roster spot.
Luckily for Miami, there’s still some strong unrestricted free agent options out there that can come aboard for a discounted price. Keep in mind, the Heat don’t necessarily have to fill that spot with an outside signing. A two-way player, or even a familiar name in Dru Smith, could make it an in-house decision.
However, with former two-way wing Keshad Johnson taking up a spot already, along with the underwhelming play of potential two-way additions from Miami’s summer league roster— the free agent market seems like the better move.
As promising as Smith looked, especially defensively in his stint under coach Erik Spoelstra last season, he is coming off a second consecutive season-ending injury. If any return from Smith is in the cards, another two-way deal seems like the safest bet.
Instead, let’s dive into some low-cost, high-reward outside additions Riley can get his hands on. The Heat might be gambling with their remaining roster spots, but if you also feel like trying your luck check out the best social casino games and get free spins today!
1. Victor Oladipo
Former Heat rotation guard Victor Oladipo has been trending as of late around the NBA world. After suffering a torn tendon in his knee back in the 2023 postseason with Miami, he has yet to return to any team’s roster ever since. But after two full calendar years, the two-time All-Star has been vocal about eying a comeback.
In fact, Oladipo reportedly looked “impressive” and “in excellent shape” in a recent private workout in Las Vegas. Several team scouts were in attendance, reportedly including representation from the Heat.
He averaged 11.7 points per game in the three seasons he played in South Beach. And most notably provided impactful defense on the perimeter and occasional scoring bursts in a bench role throughout his tenure.
Whether a Miami reunion could be a real option on the table for Oladipo seems unlikely, considering the injury history. But it would assuredly still be a feel-good storyline to give the former fan favorite one last opportunity on a discounted minimum deal.
2. Chris Boucher
Aside from the feel-good potential an acquisition of Lillard could be for the Heat, their real need is finding a backup big man.
With Love being part of the Powell trade, Miami’s depth chart at the center position features only Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware. And both are expected to be starters alongside each other.
Toronto Raptors big man Chris Boucher may pose as the most talented option to fill that role for the Heat left on the market. At 6-foot-9 and a lengthy 7-foot-4 wingspan, Boucher is a versatile center that can impact the game both inside and outside.
He is coming off a 2024-25 campaign averaging 10 points and 4.5 rebounds on nearly 50% from the field and 36.3% from deep. Additionally, Boucher could reunite with the newly acquired Powell as a former 2019 NBA champion with Toronto. His experience at 32 years old aligns with the reliable insurance at the big position.
3. Thomas Bryant
Speaking of familiar faces with ties to the Heat, Thomas Bryant is another serviceable backup that could instantly be reinserted in Spoelstra’s depth chart.
Miami parted ways with Bryant prior to last season’s NBA trade deadline, which benefited the veteran big man in a remarkable NBA Finals run with the Indiana Pacers. He earned some valuable bench minutes in the postseason, but the Pacers have yet to extend an offer to bring Bryant back in the fold as an unrestricted free agent.
The 6-10 center has signed with the Heat for a veteran minimum deal in the past, and it’d be the same team friendly contract if the franchise entertains a quick reunion. He averaged 5.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.5 blocks on 55.5% shooting across two seasons with Miami.
Despite a lack of consistent playing time during Bryant’s Heat stint, he always brought energy and passion as a respected locker room voice in that stretch.
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There is a lot of agreement, but not total, amongst us about a few things. Herro should be traded. He should be traded because his contract forces us to do so. If we pay him, we will be shackled from making other necessary moves. He also has the most trading power, brings in the best player back. Second, Nico needs to be upgraded on. He is a finesse player, without the necessary strength or bulk for the positions he is tasked with. Hoping that he can fill the roles he is being given as a PF or backup C are a bit optimistic. He is also injury prone, and if he bulks up it could impact his agility.
Even though these areas are glaring weaknesses, it’s hard to get much done to fix them. With every player drafted or brought in, and with every contract given out, there should be an exit strategy. And that exit strategy should not be having to sweeten the deal with draft picks, or giving away players for under their value, or taking on undesirable players from other teams. This is an area we could do so much better than we do.
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them”
~ William Shakespeare ~
I’ve been one of the biggest advocates for trading Herro rather than paying him $50M per year. He doesn’t deserve that. However, there is one path to greatness for him, if he chooses to follow it.
CAN HERRO BE A TEAM LEADER?
This may sound like a stupid question. However, if we allow ourselves to think outside the box, there are possibilities we haven’t previously thought of or discussed.
From the time he entered the league, Herro has had the potential to become a very good PG. However, he has not had the desire. He sees himself as a high end (and highly paid) SG.
When Herro was drafted, Butler took him under his wing and showed him how to work out effectively and prepare himself for an NBA career. At the time, Herro was 4th in the pecking order, behind Butler, Bam and Dragic. He didn’t need to be a leader. All he had to do was score points.
In his rookie year, he was a rotation player on an underdog team that made it to finals, in the bubble, due to Covid. He earned 6th Man of the Year one season. Thereafter, he became a starter. He has played together with PG’s Dragic, Lowry, Rozier and Mitchell plus a point forward, Butler. His 2-3 assists per game were a luxury, not a necessity.
HERRO AT A CROSSROAD
A very good PG must be able to score 20+ ppg, set up teammates for good shots (high # of assists) and play average defense, or better. Herro has the potential to be a very good playmaker sharing the ball, increasing his assists to 8-10 per game and stepping up his defensive game, while still scoring 20+ points per game.
In 2024-2025, Miami lost 20 games when they had 4rth quarter leads. They lost 9 games when leading by 15 or more points. After Baker checked out, there was no one to generate points at the free throw line late in games. There was no PG or point forward to set up the other players. The offense went to crap late in games (*poor 3 point shooting) and the defense closely followed. It wasn’t until Davion Mitchell arrived on the scene that order was restored out of chaos. If Herro embraces the PG role, he does not need to close out games when defense is required, Mitchell can handle that.
I noticed Herro has taken a leadership role and is working with Ware. Maybe that will be his key to success. Be more of a team player and team leader than a self-serving scorer. He can also focus more seriously on improving his defense.
Herro, Powell, Wiggins, Bam and Ware are a respectable starting 5. Powell is very good at driving into the paint and drawing fouls, In 2024-2025, he was in the 92nd percentile in the NBA. In essence he will replace Butler’s late game free throws. Also add 6th man Mitchell and 2-4 of the following players to complete the rotation (Rozier, Jovic, Jaquez, Larrson, Fontecchio, Highsmith, Johnson and Jakucionis). This is without any further trades, free agent signings or promotions from G League. With a couple of shrewd trades for a back-up PF/C and another good scorer, Miami can be very competitive. The PF/C could be someone big an athletic defender or a rebounder/scorer. The scorer should be a closer such as DeRozan.
Now, it all depends on whether Herro can step up and be the player Miami needs him to be.
You need talent to play point guard. Herro doesnt have that talent. And yes, the lack of playmaking might be the reason that nobody believes that he will ever be one of the best players in the league.
I disagree about talent. Herro is athletic, mobile and a good ball handler. At 6’5″ he could be among the taller PGs in the league. I believe he has another gear on defense he has not tapped. However, until now, he has the mindset of a high scoring SG with a ho hum defensive game.
The point I was trying to make is that Herro has another side to his game and another gear. He averaged 5.5 assists per game last year. I think if he focuses on becoming the best playmaking point guard he can be, he could easily increase his assist numbers by 4-5 per game and his value, either to Miami or another team. The same goes for his defense. If he is willing to sacrifice some of his offense to be a better playmaker and defender, it would improve the scoring by his teammates and the overall quality of Miami as a team. He must lead by example (like working with Ware and the younger players) and lead by his actions on the court. Bam is the team’s defensive leader. Herro is the team’s offensive leader. Now Herro must step up and be the team’s overall leader.
Bottom line, the only way possible Herro will ever be worth anything more than now is if he evolves into a very good PG and team leader. Time will tell.
I dont see it, but true, time will tell.
You get what you pay for. Riley still has a couple of trades to work out. One is for a good two-way back-up PF/C and the other is for an alpha male team leader who can score…preferably a PG. There are a few out there…depending who/how much Riley is willing to give up. I would start with Herro.
Heat have made some good moves around the margins. Bam is a good second best player, and Herro is a decent third best player.
The thing the Heat are missing is someone to be the best player
Boucher is a better option than most being bandied about. I would be very happy if we got him. He is a decent player in an area of need.
Of these, Boucher seems to be the best option.
Yes, I agree, I brought him up as a option a couple weeks ago. I would trust him more as a backup 4/5 over jovic.
Heat need to hold off trading for complimentary players until they have resolved more important issues, such as what to do about Herro’s pending extension.
Herro is not getting an extension
Exactly. Better to trade him now than later out of desperation ala Quitter Butler.
He still has two years left on his contract. I think the Heat are fine to let it play out.
How you know
because I’ve been watching Riley build this team for 25 years. Two things I’ve seen:
(1) if the Heat are going to give you a max extension, they’ll just give you a max extension. No negotiations, and they announce it the first day possible.
(2) if Tyler wants an extension next offseason, it doesn’t matter if he makes all-star, it doesn’t matter how many ppg he averages. If the Heat make a playoff run, he’ll get an extension. If they don’t, he’s an expiring contract
The heat should bring back victor Oladipo
On the G League team, sure, but not on a regular contract until he shows he can stay healthy.
They shouldn’t bring back Oladipo or Burkes until they have brought in a good back-up PF/C. I haven’t heard one name yet that fills that spot. Heat should trade for that person, if the price is right. What are they going to do with Niko? Put another 20 lbs on him and send him to MMA camp for a month or two and maybe he could fill that spot.
Jovic, to me, is strictly a finesse player. He doesn’t seem to have the aggressiveness needed for the position even if he continues to bulk up. Question is, do we already have our backup center under contract?
I agree. Jovic is more suited for EuroBall. He is probably best suited for a point forward, but he needs to work on his finesse and ball handling. This is his fourth season coming up and Miami still doesn’t know what they have in him. Is he a rotation player? is he a starter? Is he a good filler for a trade? I hope Riley doesn’t give him a big chuck of cash until we all find out what he is. It would be great if he (or Jaquez) could become Wiggins’ replacement after next season if/when Wiggins opts out..
Backup C is not the most important position in the team, so this could be a waste of his abilities to play him that.
If there wont be other options, there is always Ware and Bam starting, Nico and Ware following, and Nico and Bam playing some minutes at C finishing. Vlad can jump in in the case of injury.
Backup C is a luxury right now, and there are no good option available. Maybe the best way to do this is to play rotation as described above in regular season, and in the case of good outcome, find a backup center for PO then.
With all due respect back up c is not a luxury right now. I don’t think most ppl here feel comfortable going into season with an undrafted as backup C, even though he’s shown potential. Also jovic isn’t a pf/c, he’s more of a finesse player, and his rebounding is underwhelming for a player of his size, and he’s injury prone as well. As much I like the guy, he ain’t a power forward, until proven otherwise.
All you said is true, but do Bryant or Boucher as backups makes you more comfortable? The best two of that kind still available in FA?
Those two are 10-15 minutes a game players, which you can hope that can hold the ground when better players are resting in regular season.
Both could bring that, as probably Vlad to some extend.
But such players are exposed in PO, so we need a good backup center then, not now.
I guess Boucher makes me a lil more comfortable compared to Bryant, cuz his defense is better , And 10-15 minutes is exactly what we need from them to hold down the fort. Also you’re right we need a good backup C that won’t get exposed in po. So we can go into the season with this roster, but we have to get a good backup C by the trade deadline.
Exactly.
I beg to differ with you for several reasons.
#1 Back-up PF/C is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.
#2 Jovic is (forgive the expression) to big a p***y to play power forward or center in the NBA. He isn’t tough enough.
#3 Jovic is injury prone. He’s played a total of 107 games in 3 years (35.4 games per season). The most he has played in a season is 46 games (in 2023-24 and in 2024-2025). If he starts “banging with the big boys” he’s going to be missing a bunch more games.
#4 Jovic has made it known he doesn’t like playing in the frontcourt. He would prefer to play SF or even SG.
#5 At best, I see Jovic as a back-up to Wiggins with potential to compete with Jaquez to replace Wiggins if he opts out after the season. Otherwise, I see him as a trade filler for Wiggins’ replacement.
He is able to play all 5 positions, many of those within one game, but true, he doesnt excel in any of them. I believe, Small (point ) Forward would be his position in offense.
In defense, I doubt he can cover traditional small forwards of Wiggins type or smaller ones, but he can cover bigger ones. And less athletic PF.
So its all about match up. In every case, he needs some more muscles.