There are multiple holes the Miami Heat must address after swinging a six-player blockbuster for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Arguably the biggest one is 3-point shooting, with roughly half their shooting production from a year ago now either in Milwaukee or in free agency.
Assuming Jahmir Young’s team option is exercised and Andrew Wiggins ($30.2 million player option) returns in some capacity, the Heat have 10 players rostered with at least four spots to fill, and they could be in the chase for 10-year veteran Buddy Hield, according to Five Reasons Sports’ Ethan Skolnick.
Heat could pursue veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield:
Hield, 33, has been one of the NBA’s most reknowned shooters since being drafted No. 6 overall in 2016. He’s shot 39.5 percent from deep in his career, including three seasons topping 42.0 percent, most recently in 2022-23 with the Indiana Pacers (42.5 percent, 8.5 3PA).
Last season, in 51 combined games with the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks, Hield averaged 7.6 points on 34.9 percent shooting from 3-point range.
He is owed $9.7 million in 2026-27, though only $3 million of it is guaranteed heading into the summer. The original guarantee date was Thursday, though it was pushed back to an undisclosed date, according to NBA Insider Chris Haynes.
Why I would steer clear of Hield:
There’s the prospects that the veteran wing would come cheap. Theoretically, there are far worse options for the Heat to explore on presumably a minimum contract.
However, Hield isn’t a reliable rotation player at this stage of his career.
Hield didn’t see much opportunity on an injured, poorly-constructed Warriors team last season. After getting dealt to a surging Atlanta Hawks team, he barely saw the floor at all. He’ll be entering his age-34 season, and he’s regressed into a slightly above-average shooter over the last three seasons (37.3 3P%).
Heat need shooting anywhere it can find it, and Hield’s still an effective spot-up shooter. But when a player’s only redeeming quality is no longer elite, and he’s pushing his mid-30s, that’s telling.
Every move the Heat must make must be geared toward winning right now. Hield’s not a poor option, but not one that you can consistently rely on to impact winning at this stage of his career.
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celts might as well trade tatum start over they got nothing now good im so happy .that giannis move set them back for years set us up for jewelry for the next 5 years
celts actively trading brown good wont have to worry about cs anymore
Well, if rumors are true, it could be a sign and trade for Duran, which is nice for them, plus now Detroit gets tougher. So either way we’re going to have to slay two dragons just to get to the final boss.
Doesn’t do enough to put up with 34%, combined with age.
34 f that 2q
So that means you don’t want Middleton or Hardaway then since they’re both 34 also.
“Doesn’t do enough” as in those guys will give you a little more towards winning games than Hield contributes. Also, I meant his 34% 3pt. #Fax 😉