The Miami Heat, predictably, made no moves after the NBA Trade Deadline passed. The Heat have often followed this pattern in recent years, but this time there was some difference. Prior to the trade deadline, Miami completed a trade when they acquired Terry Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets for Kyle Lowry and a lottery protected first round pick. Once that move was made, you could already guess the Heat were done making moves. With Lowry’s expiring gone, the only other big trade chips were Duncan Robinson, Rozier, and Tyler Herro. And the Heat weren’t trading either. At least at this deadline.
But one might anticipate that the Heat will be active in the buyout market, as they were the previous season when they acquired Cody Zeller and Kevin Love, the latter of whom has proven to be a great rotational player and has worked out incredibly well. In order for Miami to finish strong and make another push at the playoffs, they are searching for a player who can make an impact on the same level and fill a gap. It’s crucial to keep in mind that Miami has limitations on the players it may sign according to the “new collective-bargaining agreement, or CBA, which allows teams positioned where the Heat stand against the luxury tax to only sign waived players whose current salary is at no more than league average of $12.4 million.
Basically, that leaves out players such as Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris, and others who salaries are higher than that number. However, there are still players under that who could be on the Heat’s radar. We take a look at a few of them below.
Danilo Gallinari (Free Agent)
Danilo Gallinari has been linked to the Miami Heat for years. Back in 2020, the Heat attempted to acquire Gallinari at the trade deadline. But those talks failed after Gallinari and the Heat failed to agree on an extension. It will not be surprising to see Miami go after him again now he’s a free agent.
Despite being 35 years old, he can still contribute some energy to a team as a reserve and add size at 6 feet 10 inches. Miami is devoid of both size and a real power forward, particularly one with the ability to shoot three pointers as he is only shooting 38 percent from downtown in his career. Gallinari is currently making $6.8 million this season, which satisfies the Heat’s restriction.
Thad Young (Free Agent)
Thaddeus Young was included in the deal that sent Dennis Schroder from the Toronto Raptors to the Brooklyn Nets. Following the trade, Young was reportedly waived by the Nets, according to reports. These days, the 35-year-old forward serves as a backup center, mostly providing playmaking and crafty plays around the rim. Young is not the defender he once was. However, He’s known for being a great locker room presence. He has tons of playoff experiences dating back to 2008. He can fill in and provide some minutes if there’s any injuries.
Killian Hayes (Free Agent)
One of the surprising moves at the deadline came when the Detroit Pistons waived Killian Hayes. After failing to find a trade and needing roster spots, the team ultimately decided to cut ties with the 22-year-old guard. Even though he started most of his games for Detroit, he was never able to establish a rhythm, partly because of his poor shooting consistency. Nevertheless, he is still very young and has talent that could give him a look from teams. Miami is one of the best developmental teams in the league. This could be one player they take a chance on.
Otto Porter Jr, Utah Jazz
At the Trade Deadline, Otto Porter Jr. was traded to the Utah Jazz as part of a deal sending Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji to the Raptors. Porter Jr was essential to the Golden State Warriors‘ 2022 championship run. He hasn’t played as much since then due to injuries. Despite this teams were interested in pursuing him during the trade deadline. For playoff teams, Porter Jr. may bring playoff experience and leadership to a locker room if bought out. And if healthy, a versatile 3 & D wing player on the court.
Delon Wright, Washington Wizards
The younger brother of former Miami Heat player Dorell Wright, Delon Wright may be one of the best options on the market. He’s likely to get calls from just about any contender. Wright is the kind of player that contenders love—a tall, long guard with defensive versatility. Despite being an average shooter from beyond the arc, he makes most of his impact on the court with his point of attack defense. Wright can match up against many wings as well as standard ball-handling guards thanks to his 6-foot-7.75 wingspan. If or when he’s bought out, this is a name to watch.
