After a disappointing first-round exit in the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the Miami Heat knew that some changes had to be made in order to get this team back into contention. With that being said, the team went out and made a blockbuster trade to acquire Kyle Lowry from the Toronto Raptors while shipping off Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa in the opposite direction.

Along with Lowry, the Heat also brought in the likes of P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris, while locking up Duncan Robinson and Jimmy Butler on big deals. Kendrick Nunn, Trevor Ariza, and Andre Iguodala also departed, but as a whole, Miami should have no problems being very competitive in the Eastern Conference with their offseason moves.

Offseason Grade for the Heat: B+

Kyle Lowry

The Heat were linked with Lowry ahead of the trade deadline, but they ultimately waited until Free Agency to make a move for the veteran guard. With his contract expiring in Toronto, it was inevitable that he would leave the Raptors, and frankly, Lowry landed in one of the best destinations possible.

Miami was in need of another versatile backcourt figure who brought experience and leadership to the squad. Lowry checks off all of these boxes. Miami really lacked a true point guard who can not only score but also facilitate the rock at a high level. The 35-year-old averaged 17.2 points and 7.3 assists per game last season in Toronto. From a playmaking standpoint, Butler and Bam Adebayo led the Heat in dimes in 2020/21. We know that Jimmy Buckets is a great passer who is unselfish, but with the addition of Lowry, he can focus more on scoring while Adebayo can worry about dominating in the paint.

Miami has no shortage of shooters either like Robinson and Tyler Herro. With Lowry in the fold, he's going to elevate their games as well by finding them more open looks thanks to his high basketball IQ. Defensively, the Heat are already strong, but Lowry makes them even better on that end of the floor. In every single aspect, this was a tremendous signing for Miami. Sure, losing Dragic is a bummer, but Lowry brings a playoff pedigree and a championship mentality to South Beach.

Duncan Robinson

It may seem like a lot of money to give Robinson $90 million over five years, but he's proven to be worth it. The former Michigan standout had a bit of an off-year in 2020/21, averaging just 13.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, but Robinson excelled in where he's expected to: shooting. The  27-year-old drained 41% of his threes last season and has shot an impressive 42.5% from downtown in his NBA career. Robinson's ability to sink shots from anywhere on the floor is extremely valuable to any team in today's game. Alongside Tyler Herro, they're the best shooters on the Heat by far. Great job by the front office to keep Robinson around for the foreseeable future.

P.J. Tucker

The Heat just got even better defensively with Tucker joining the squad. He immediately elevated the Bucks' defense upon his arrival in March, helping Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. win their first NBA title in 50 years. Adding Tucker to Miami brings more toughness, grit, and heart. He's an absolute grinder who prides himself in shutting down opponents on a nightly basis. After winning a championship, Tucker will be poised to run it back and compete for another one in 2022 with a strong Heat team. While his production is limited offensively, the veteran makes up for it in other areas.

Markieff Morris

Morris had a down year in 2020/21 with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging just 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 31% from long range. While he will likely play a bench role with the Heat, Morris has proven to be a decent three-point shooter in his career, posting a 34.1% clip. The forward is also a solid defender and brings a certain level of toughness to South Beach, just like Tucker. With more playmakers around him, the hope is that Morris can start to shoot the ball more efficiently. This is a nice piece for the Heat off the bench. It's just a one-year deal as well, so no harm done if it doesn't work out.

Victor Oladipo

Oladipo hasn't spent much time on the court since joining the Heat and will probably miss most of next season due to surgery. But, on a one-year deal worth just $2.6 million, this is a low-risk signing for Miami. If he gets healthy, Oladipo has the ability to be an above-average scorer and playmaker who could pair well with Lowry in the Heat backcourt. In 20 games with the Rockets in 2020/21 before getting traded to Miami, Oladipo averaged 21.2 points, 5.0 assists, and shot 40.7% from the field. He played just four games for Erik Spoelstra before going on the shelf, but there's certainly potential there. It's just a matter of actually staying on the court.

Great offseason for the Heat

All in all, the 2021 NBA offseason should be considered a huge success for Miami. They added more hard-nosed defenders, capable scorers, and shooters. While the likes of Iguodala, Nunn, Ariza, and Dragic aren't ideal, they replaced them all quite nicely.