Heat Still Have One Roster Spot That Could Quietly Matter

The Miami Heat are exploring fresh two-way talent to bolster their depth after landing Giannis Antetokounmpo in a major trade.

The Miami Heat have already made their biggest splash of the offseason by bringing in Giannis Antetokounmpo in a massive deal, but that kind of move comes with a cost. Miami had to part with plenty of assets, and the result is a rotation that needs rebuilding. With most of the offseason work already finished, the Heat still have a couple of open roster spots and a two-way opening to sort through.

That leaves Miami shopping for low-risk help, and three names stand out as possible fits.

Sharife Cooper is one of them. The 25-year-old was a consensus five-star recruit in 2019, spent one season at Auburn, and entered the 2021 draft before going in the second round.

He never really settled in at the NBA level, bounced through the G-League, and then took his game overseas with stops in China, Greece and Turkey. This past season, he got back to the NBA on a two-way deal with the Washington Wizards and made the most of it, appearing in 41 games while averaging 8.1 points and shooting 38.2 percent from three-point range.

For Erik Spoelstra, that kind of young guard with some proven shooting could be worth a look.

Another option is Norchad Omier, who spent last season with the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-way contract after first joining the Cleveland Cavaliers as an undrafted free agent. The 24-year-old went undrafted last year after five seasons in college and quickly made an impression in the G-League, where he was one of Cleveland’s best players and finished third in voting for the 2025-26 Kia NBA G League Rookie of the Year award.

He played in just six games for the Clippers, but his rebounding has already shown up. With Miami having dealt Kel'el Ware in the blockbuster trade, a young backup center makes sense, and Omier fits that lane.

Then there’s Hayden Gray, a 23-year-old guard who barely got on the floor for the Utah Jazz last season, appearing in just one game after going undrafted. What he did at UC San Diego still gives him a case, though, thanks to a senior season in which he shot 41.8 percent from three-point range.

Miami can always use another shooter, and Spoelstra has a track record of developing perimeter players. Gray may be the most under-the-radar name of the three, but he looks like a plausible two-way swing for the Heat.

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