The 2026 NBA offseason is nearing its conclusion, and the Miami Heat secured the first and biggest headline acquisition of the summer with their Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster deal.
However, with just over a month from training camp, Miami’s work is still incomplete. They have been operating with three vacant standard roster spots for several weeks now. Although it’s not expected for the Heat to fill all 15 spots, they are required to fill at least 14. Additionally, there is an open two-way slot as well.
When it comes to the standards, the Heat front office have made their intentions clear on their patient route monitoring Klay Thompson’s situation with the Dallas Mavericks. They reportedly have targeted the veteran sharpshooter as a preferred addition to add some much needed floor spreading around Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
But there are still other names that have been linked to Miami on the rumor mill to potentially fill these roster spots.
Any combination out of these 3 names seems to be the most likely scenarios for the Heat:
As mentioned, it’s no secret that the Heat want Thompson. According to Marc Stein of the stein Line, he went as far as to say they are “desperate” to get the 36-year-old to South Beach on a buyout.
But Thompson is still under contract with his near-$17 million expiring salary. It’s been reported that Miami would like to add him via a buyout, while Dallas has held out on doing so and prefer a trade to part with the former four-time NBA Champion. The Heat are reportedly optimistic that at some point before camp, Dallas gives in and lets Thompson loose— as the Mavericks are currently at 16 roster spots and will be required to dump at least one player.
If not, that’s where a guy like DeMar DeRozan could come in (if still available) to get some of Miami’s mid-level money. Nick Richards, a young quality backup big, has also been seen working out at the Heat’s training facility and could be the perfect final addition on a veteran minimum as an unrestricted free agent.
Do the Heat make a surprise pickup that nobody expected?
Pat Riley and this Heat front office often like to operate in silence, and don’t like it when a lot of rumors get out. As far as the fanbase knows, they could shock everyone and fill one or both of these spots with mystery players that haven’t had much traction or linkage to Miami— depending on what plays out with Thompson and/or DeRozan.
Players to keep an eye on that fit that description could be guys like Bruce Brown and Gabe Vincent.
Each of those two remain unrestricted free agents as well, and are both veteran minimum price tag rotation pieces to consider. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds over the next month to see who rounds out the roster for the first season of the Giannis era in Miami.
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Apparently a Keshad reunion is a possibility. And Klay got 2 years roughly 13m. Miami paid way more for him than what Denver gave DeRozan. I can’t imagine Miami had real interest, because they clearly could’ve paid DeMar more at the time.
Guess everyone on this board is big sad now that DeRozan has opted to play with the nuggets.
I’m greedy. I would’ve liked both. But Klay is definitely the better fit.
I mean I guess. I’d like a team of 15 all stars, like the 76ers, but there are problem with lineups like that too.
Only one basketball on the court at a time and only so many areas to shoot from.
I’d rather Miami find the pieces that fit than the stars or former stars and force a fit.
DeRozan to the Nuggets one year $3.9 million.
Move on to Brown and Richards.
Pat needs to call Richards now
All Riley needs to do is go to the gym, since Richards has been practicing there with the team in a Heat uniform for a couple of weeks.
Half the folks on here are like full blown panic about the bench, when this is the best team Miami has fielded in like 5 seasons.
I wasn’t a fan of gutting the future to get Giannis, but now that he’s here, I’m gonna enjoy watching a boarder line contender with tons of solid pieces.
The Bucks 2 years ago were the 5th seed, and I’d argue Miami is better than they were. That’s the floor in my eyes if they stay healthy.
According to hoopshype.com Klay will signed with Miami for $ 3,876,529. Not sure where this number comes from or if it is accurate. But it’s there.
https://eu.hoopshype.com/salaries/teams/miami-heat/14/
If true, what would be left is similar to a vet minimum, so DeRozn would have to be willing to take it. I still feel like he ends up in Detroit or Denver.
Bird was always in hand
Just like Magic. 😀
Honestly, this surprised me. First of all, I didn’t think the Mavs’ FO would do it and second, I would expect him to go to California instead. But hey, I am not complaining. He will fit nicely. And our starting line up will be set. Now let’s go sign Richards and DeRozan, too to upgrade our bench.
An aging gunslinger. Good fit just asking for a friend who flips on “Gunsmoke” re-runs when Spo drives him nuts. Can only imagine Spo juggling his lineups constantly into the playoffs. Spo likes to grind…the East will certainly provide plenty of that.
I didn’t think Ujiri was dumb enough to buy Klay out, but he did it. Heat would have been desperate by mid-season for perimeter shooting and would have traded for him. But hey, Pat will take it. Now I doubt DeRozan signs here for peanuts, so he’s probably out of the running.
Been saying I will have to pick myself up off the floor if DeRozan comes here for a minimum.
The Heat would have been perfectly fine being patient to let something shake loose during the season. But they knew this was going to happen. 🙂
They had to subtract one player as they had 16 signed, one over the maximum allowed. 2015 made a good case of why it would be Klay released as opposed to their other players. They were trying to trade him, but didn’t find a taker.
Thats a good analysis of what I saw.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25300442-klay-thompson-reportedly-sign-heat-after-agreeing-mavericks-contract-buyout
So Klay is coming.
As I said, I would have him, but not for more then vet min.
He will probably cost 6-7 mill, which is a bit high.
I also think, that he is not a starter quality player any more. Maybe the idea is to shift places with THJ from time to time.
He will probably start, but they might play similar minutes with THJ. So, we will have good depth at the wings – Klay, Wiggins, THJ, Pelle, Jovic. Nice!
We got em!
Klay, come on down.
I saw this… It’s on, now.
Now we can make anther move since they know how much $ they have left. No word yet on terms.
Who’s next, DeRozan? Brown? Richards?
I think Richards is the best remaining option. Gives Miami a bit more depth at Center.
Klay fits well with what Miami needs off the bench – can score, but does it from areas that DeRozan doesn’t.
I hope they fill all 15 spots.
I bet they don’t, but we’ll see. DeRozan off the board to Denver. He’s a better fit there imo, though that defense with him and Nikola could be amusing to watch.
I agree… I’d rather Richards or some other center than DeRozan.