The Miami Heat made the kind of headline-grabbing move that can reshape a season, landing Giannis Antetokounmpo in a major offseason swing. But the trade came with a cost. Miami gave up four players in the deal, then watched Norman Powell leave for the Chicago Bulls in free agency, leaving Pat Riley with a roster that still needs more bodies and more reliability.
That’s where the remaining free-agent market comes in. The Heat have three standard roster spots open right now, and if they want to give Antetokounmpo a real supporting cast, the bench needs help. A few veteran names still fit the bill.
DeMar DeRozan is one of the most obvious options. The 36-year-old was recently waived by the Sacramento Kings after reaching a buyout agreement, which put him into unrestricted free agency.
Miami has had interest in DeRozan before and has remained interested this offseason. Even at this stage of his career, he’s still producing.
He averaged 18.4 points and started 77 games, and his availability is a major selling point. For a Heat team looking for another scorer who can help soak up forward minutes with Wiggins, DeRozan checks a lot of boxes and should come at a manageable price for a team chasing a championship.
Bruce Brown Jr. is another name that makes sense. He’s built a strong reputation as a bench spark plug, and after winning a title in Denver in 2023, he was back with the Nuggets this past season and appeared in all 82 games.
Brown shot 47.5 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three-point range. He’s undersized, but he can handle both guard spots and even slide to small forward, which is a useful kind of flexibility in today’s league.
With Miami’s backcourt situation unsettled after trading Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakucionis and losing Powell, Brown would give the Heat a steady way to fill minutes.
Nick Richards rounds out the group. The 28-year-old center has carved out a role as a bench big, starting his career with the Charlotte Hornets and serving as a backup to Mark Williams for a couple of seasons. With Williams dealing with consistent injury issues, Richards got more run, and while he hasn’t turned into a true starting-caliber center, he still stands out as one of the better reserve options available for rebounding and frontcourt depth.
Miami has already made its big move. Now the question is whether Riley has one more round of roster work left before the offseason ends.
In Other News...
Heat Still Linked To Two Big Names But One Question Lingers
The Timberwolves are still sorting out their frontcourt picture, with president of basketball operations Tim Connelly saying the team does not yet have a clear starter at power forward. Minnesota is leaning on internal options while welcoming veteran Trey Lyles into the mix, and Connelly also acknowledged there are still talks with one or two free agents despite the clubs financial limits. It is the kind of roster math that keeps the market moving, especially with head coach Chris Finch open to unconventional lineups if that is what the group requires.
For Miami, the broader free-agent picture remains worth watching because the Heat are still connected to a pair of big names in a market that has not fully settled. One question lingers, though, and it could shape how realistic any late move becomes as teams around the league keep adjusting their plans. The ripple effects are already visible elsewhere, with Dallas looking for a trade partner for Klay Thompson and Washington turning its attention after missing on a different veteran target. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Conwell Suddenly Has A Real Shot In Miamis New Era
The Heats new direction has come with the kind of roster shakeup that changes the pecking order quickly. After landing Giannis Antetokounmpo and moving out several pieces, Miami is suddenly thinner in the backcourt than it looked a few weeks ago, which matters for a team that will still be judged by championship standards. With fewer proven guards in the mix, every training-camp rep and preseason minute feels more meaningful for the players trying to carve out a role.
Ryan Conwell is one of the names to watch in that group. The second-round pick enters a situation where opportunity is available if he can handle the pace, space the floor and show enough trustworthiness to stay on the court, and Miamis new era could give him a real opening earlier than expected. For a rookie on a contender, that is a tricky path, but it is also exactly the kind of window that can turn a quiet summer into a much bigger season. [Read more 🡒]