With the regular season only a few days away, Miami’s free agency options have basically shrunk to the edge of the roster. The Heat have just one spot left, and this time of year rarely delivers much. Still, with training camp cuts rolling in, there are a few names that could matter.
The biggest question hanging over the team is point guard depth. Dru Smith is not guaranteed to be ready for opening night, and using Tre Donaldson’s two-way games too early may not be the smartest move when Miami is already thin at that spot. If Smith is available for the opener, the need could shift to another wing instead.
That leaves the Heat looking at a short list of possible late additions.
Bruce Brown stands out, even if he is not technically available yet. Right now, Brown and former second overall pick James Wiseman are fighting for the final roster spot on the Knicks, though Wiseman appears likelier to get it because New York has more need for another center than for a wing.
If Brown gets waived, he would have the freedom to choose his next team. Miami would make sense for a player who has spent most of his career on playoff teams.
He brings experience, defense, and the possibility of more value if his 3-point shot comes back.
Cam Christie is a different kind of swing. He has not done much yet in the NBA, and the Clippers recently cut him after drafting him in the second round in 2024.
Even so, he is only 21 and was a strong 3-point shooter in college. His situation also means Miami would not necessarily have to use a standard roster spot on him.
The Heat could add his G League rights by signing him to the Sioux Falls Skyforce or by waiving Vlad Goldin, who is 25 and appears to be barely hanging on with the organization.
Then there is Gabe Vincent, which feels like the cleanest fit. He has not been effective since leaving Miami, but the possibility remains that he could rediscover that form with the staff that already knows how to use him.
He would fit quickly into a system he already understands and could be ready if Smith is unavailable. Given Smith’s injury history, there is real value in not rushing him back.
None of these options are game-changers. That is not the point.
Miami is working with the last roster spot, and moves at the margins are what remain. The Heat could go after any of these three and get something useful, or they could shuffle the player elsewhere later.
Either way, the clock is almost out.
In Other News...
Heat Roster Cuts Just Clarified Who Fans Should Keep Watching
The Heat have trimmed their preseason roster down to the point where the next phase of the season is already coming into focus. Miami waived four developmental players, Ezra Ausar, Kylor Kelley, Gabe Madsen and Bez Mbeng, after the preseason wrapped up, clearing the way for the team to get closer to the leagues 15-player standard contract limit.
For now, the move mostly shifts attention to Sioux Falls, where all four players are expected to land with the Skyforce and continue their development in the Heat system. It is the kind of roster housekeeping that rarely makes noise on its own, but for Miami it also serves as a reminder of which young players remain on the radar as the organization starts sorting out its regular-season depth. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Could Still Find One Veteran Who Changes Their Rotation
With the roster cutdown deadline closing in, the Heat have already trimmed a few young prospects and are still looking at ways to tighten up the back end of the roster. That has naturally turned attention to a familiar pool of recently waived NBA veterans, the kind of players who can step into a rotation without needing much ramp-up time if the fit makes sense.
Among the names floating around are Pat Connaughton, Jeremy Sochan and Bruce Brown, all of whom bring some combination of experience, versatility and lineup flexibility. Miami has not made any official additions yet, but the fact that these veterans are even in the conversation suggests the front office is still weighing whether one more proven piece could help settle the rotation before the deadline passes. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Conwell Is Forcing A Tough Heat Rotation Decision
Ryan Conwell has done enough in preseason to make the Heat think a little harder about how they want to handle the back end of the roster. The second-round pick, originally selected by the Thunder and then sent to Miami right away, has shown the kind of promise that can make a draft-night gamble look smarter in a hurry, even with the Heat loading up on veterans and reshaping the group around the edges.
The tricky part now is figuring out where he fits in the short term. Miami has enough established pieces that Conwell may not have a clean path to consistent NBA minutes right away, and the most realistic route could start with a run in the G-League before he works his way into a regular role. For a team that likes competition and development, it is the kind of decision that can shape how quickly a young player becomes part of the rotation picture. [Read more 🡒]