The Miami Heat have one roster spot left to sort out, and Kelly Olynyk is the kind of familiar name that makes sense if they decide to fill it.
Miami has already done the heavy lifting this offseason. The franchise landed Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster deal that sent four players and picks the other way.
Norman Powell left for the Chicago Bulls in free agency, but the Heat responded by adding depth in a hurry. Klay Thompson and Nick Richards arrived over the last two weeks, Tim Hardaway Jr. signed earlier on a one-year deal, and Simone Fontecchio is back in the rotation on a one-year deal as well.
That leaves Erik Spoelstra’s group with one opening, and the team has a choice to make: leave it unused for flexibility later in the season, or bring in another piece now.
If Miami does go the latter route, Olynyk is still on the board. The 35-year-old remains an unrestricted free agent at the start of September, and he fits the profile of a player who can steady a bench unit without needing a major role. He has spent the last decade as one of the league’s more dependable backup centers, and his game has always carried a little extra value because he can stretch the floor.
Olynyk’s path started with the Boston Celtics, who drafted him in the lottery in 2013, two picks ahead of Antetokounmpo. He later earned a long-term deal with the Heat in 2017 after making his mark as a reliable three-point shooter. During his three-and-a-half seasons in Miami, he was a steady part of the rotation before being traded in the final year of his contract.
Since then, he has settled into a veteran reserve role, moving through stops with the Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors before most recently backing up Victor Wembanyama with the San Antonio Spurs.
Richards gives Miami more help in the frontcourt already, but Olynyk would still make sense as a candidate for the 15th spot. That spot is unlikely to carry a heavy minute load unless injuries hit, so the Heat could use it on someone who brings experience, shooting and a working familiarity with Spoelstra.
Miami could still decide to keep the opening for a two-way player who pops later. For now, though, the cleaner basketball move might be bringing in a veteran who knows the program and can slide right into the mix.
In Other News...
Giannis Just Sent Heat Fans A Powerful Message About Miami
Giannis Antetokounmpos move to South Florida is already giving Heat fans plenty to think about, and not just because of what he might bring on the court. After being traded to Miami, he bought a $13.5 million mansion in Pinecrest, a quiet enclave that has long appealed to current and former Heat players. The property checks every box for a modern star, with roughly 12,000 square feet, multiple bedrooms and the kind of amenities that come with a house built for comfort as much as status.
The purchase was made through a company tied to his New York lawyers, which only adds to the intrigue around how quickly he is planting roots in the area. Pinecrest has become something of a familiar address for the Heat fraternity, and this one already feels like a signal that Antetokounmpo is settling into life around the franchise. For Miami, it is another reminder that the teams biggest offseason story may be about more than basketball. [Read more 🡒]
Former Lakers Guard Suddenly Linked To A Familiar Landing Spot
Miami has already made a point of addressing its perimeter shooting this summer, bringing in Tim Hardaway Jr. and Klay Thompson on short-term deals to give the roster more spacing on the wing. Even after those moves, the Heat still have reason to keep an eye on the market, especially when a familiar name surfaces as a possible fit.
Gabe Vincent remains unsigned and looking for his next NBA opportunity, and the connection makes sense for a team that knows exactly what he can bring. A former Heat guard who later moved from the Lakers to the Hawks, Vincent already has a track record in Miami and the kind of shooting profile that could keep him in the conversation if the team decides it wants more backcourt depth. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Have A New Role Player Debate That Could Shape Everything
The Heats next rotation conversation is already taking shape, and it starts with the kind of role-player competition that can quietly matter as much as any headline move. Gabe Vincent recently pointed to Davion Mitchell as a potential offensive X-factor for Miami in the 2026-27 season, a nod to how the guard group could take on more responsibility if the team wants to keep its attack balanced and adaptable.
Pelle Larsson is part of that same discussion, with expectations that he could carve out a significant bench role after strong play in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. None of it is locked in yet, of course, but the way Miamis depth is being framed suggests a real fight for minutes could shape how the rotation looks when the season starts to matter. [Read more 🡒]