6 Quality Players Miami Could Sign in the 2024 Offseason
The Miami Heat are among the National Basketball Association (NBA) teams with the fewest question marks for their roster in 2024-25. Each of the team's five highest-paid players—Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, and Duncan Robinson—are under contract for next season. Rookie standout Jaime Jaquez is also signed for 2024-25 at a low salary cap hit of $3.68 million. Caleb Martin, Kevin Love, Josh Richardson, and Thomas Bryant have player options for next season.
However, teams often use the off-season to reshape their rosters and address various needs and, unless the Heat win the NBA title, that'll likely be the case in Miami. The Heat have minimal salary cap space, but can make major changes via sign-and-trades or shipping out players with higher salaries. They might also choose to complement returning players with depth signings.
Whatever direction the Heat take in the 2024 off-season, here's a look at six potential free agents they could target.
Isaiah Hartenstein
After potential Heat target Kelly Olynk signed a two-year, $26.5 million contract with the Toronto Raptors, the Heat could turn their attention to New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein in their search for a backup to Adebayo. Miami was rumored to be interested in acquiring Olynyk, who was on an expiring contract, prior to this year's trade deadline. They could have pursued him in free agency, but the Toronto native chose to sign an extension with his childhood team.
Hartenstein wouldn't complement Adebayo as much as Olynyk as he's not as good of an outside shooter, but he has underrated playmaking ability and is a good rim protector. The former second-round pick of the Houston Rockets is in his second season with the Knicks and was averaging a career-best 8.4 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 1.1 steals through his first 58 games in 2023-24. He said in February he would love to re-sign with the Knicks and New York owns his "Early Bird" rights, which allows them to go over the salary cap to re-sign him.
Talen Horton-Tucker
Miami would be a great landing spot for 23-year-old guard Talen Horton-Tucker, who is in the final year of a three-year, $30.78 million contract signed. A second-round pick of the Orlando Magic in 2019, Horton-Tucker signed the contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, but was traded a year later to the Utah Jazz. He averaged 10.7 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 2022-23 and had similar averages through 41 games in 2023-24.
Horton-Tucker is a talented playmaker with good athleticism, but is a below average shooter. He has shot below 42 percent from the field in each of the last two seasons and is a career 29 percent shooter from three-point range. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has a reputation for helping players reach their untapped potential and could do wonders in helping Horton-Tucker with his outside jump shot.
O.G. Anunoby
Like current Raptor Olynk, Miami was also linked to former Raptor O.G. Anunoby during the 2023-24 season. Some reports suggested the Heat and Raptors spoke about a potential deal involving Herro, but Toronto ultimately decided to trade Anunoby to the Knicks. A great perimeter defender who earned a spot on last year's second-team All-Defensive team, Anunoby would improve Miami's defense and give them a solid three-point shooter to help spread the floor on offense.
Anunoby is expected to decline his $19.93 million player option for the 2024-25 season and hit the open market. New York will be a favorite to re-sign him, but Miami is another potential suitor considering their recent interest.
Pascal Siakam
While it's perhaps less likely, Miami could also show interest in another former Raptor: Pascal Siakam. The Raptors traded Siakam and his expiring contract to the Indiana Pacers prior to this year's trade deadline. The All-Star forward, who has averaged 22.7 points over the last five seasons, is believed to be looking to sign a max contract (five-year, $248.5 million) in the off-season. Miami would need to trade one of its core players to make that contract fit under the salary cap.
Tobias Harris
Tobias Harris projects to be the second-best power forward free agent this summer behind Siakam. He would be a cheaper alternative to the former Raptor, while providing solid secondary scoring and veteran leadership. The 32-year-old Philadelphia 76ers forward is shooting 38 percent from three-point range since the start of the 2015-16 season. He's in the last season of a five-year, $180 million contract.
Jonas Valanciunas
Jonas Valanciunas is another potential free agent who could give the Heat solid minutes in the front court next season. Arguably the top center on the free agent market, Valanciunas is a traditional big who can score at the rim and grab rebounds. A 6-foot-11, 265-pound native of Lithuania, he averaged at least 14 points and 10 rebounds in each of the last four seasons, split between the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies.