The Miami Heat are coming off a first-round exit. They were swept by the Milwaukee Bucks. They had high expectations entering the season following an NBA Finals appearance in 2020, but underperformed.
The Heat have now shifted their focus to free agency, where they could add pieces to get back to the Finals.
Free agency will be all about putting the right pieces around stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. There are some big names in free agency that the Heat will look to sign.
Here are the 5 best players the Heat must sign in the 2021 NBA free agency.
Heat targets:
5. Forward Doug McDermott
While Doug McDermott isn't a star player, it is important to bring in role players. Last season with the Indiana Pacers, McDermott averaged a career-high 13.6 points per game in about 25 minutes per game. He is a great three-point shooter as he has shot 40.7 percent from deep in his career.
This is something the Heat need as they lack three-point shooting. They have a few shooters, but in the modern NBA, you need to add more to have offensive success. McDermott would be a solid backup forward that would space the floor and provide some buckets.
4. Guard J.J. Redick
J.J. Redick would be a perfect role player for the Heat. They need to add a backup guard that can shoot the lights out, and Redick provides that. Although Redick is getting up in age, he is still a career 41.5 percent three-point shooter.
One thing to note is Jimmy Butler and Redick were teammates with the Philadelphia 76ers, and multiple Heat players have appeared on Redick's podcast. Don't be surprised if the Heat signs Redick to come off the bench in free agency.
3. Guard Lonzo Ball
An important position for the Heat to add is at the point guard position. Lonzo Ball would be a solid addition that could become a core piece of the Heat. Ball has always been a great defender and playmaker, but his criticism was his poor shooting ability. Last season Ball improved in that department as he shot 37.8 percent from behind the arc. He also drastically improved his free throw percentage going from 56.6 percent to 78.1 percent.
Ball averaged 14.6 points per game to go along with 5.7 assists. If the Heat misses out on other top point guards, Ball would be a great guy to bring in.
2. Forward Tim Hardaway Jr.
One of the most sought out role players in free agency is Tim Hardaway Jr. He had a solid season with the Dallas Mavericks but stepped up his production even more in the playoffs. During the playoff run, Hardaway Jr. averaged 17 points per game on 40.4 percent from three-point range.
He had the task of defending Paul George and Kawhi Leonard at times and did a solid job. He proved that he is valuable to any contending team due to his versatility defensively and shooting ability.
If the Heat land Hardaway Jr., they will be getting a picture-perfect role player.
1. Guard Kyle Lowry
The best free agent for the Heat to bring in would be guard Kyle Lowry. Lowry is a 6-time All-Star that can do it all. He may not be a superstar like Kawhi Leonard or Chris Paul, but they are both expected to resign with their teams. Lowry would be veteran leadership and championship experience, having won a championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
Last season, Lowry averaged 17.2 points per game along with 7.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds. He also shot efficiently from three at 39.6 percent.
Look for the Heat to be aggressive in trying to bring in Lowry, as he would be a great fit for the franchise.
The Heat will be making a lot of moves in free agency as they look to get back to the NBA Finals.
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