Exploring Heat’s search for shooters and what makes sense with roster, finances
During its march to six NBA Finals in the past 16 years, the Heat always found a way to snag value shooters, from legendary Ray Allen (and former All-Star Rashard Lewis) on minimum-salary deals, to Mike Miller on a very reasonable $5 million-a-year contract, to unearthed gems Duncan Robinson and Max Strus.
Now, faced with fairly limited flexibility under a $209 million hard cap, the Heat will again need to find three-point marksmen, at good value, to space the floor around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Financial constraints complicate that search. Because of the Antetokounmpo deal, Miami will be $19 million under the hard cap if Andrew Wiggins opts into $30 million next season and if the Heat can’t shed any more salary in trades.
After subtracting $7.2 million for three players on minimum contracts (and $1.3 million for the player drafted at No. 41), that would leave only about $11 million to spend. That would not be enough to re-sign free agent Norman Powell, and he’s likely to sign elsewhere, ESPN’s top two information men reported this week.
If Wiggins opts out — which is believed to be the Heat’s preference — and signs a three-year deal beginning at less money (say, $20 million, with annual raises), the Heat’s room under the apron could swell to from $19 million to as much as $29 million.
How could the Heat find shooters with that $19 million to $29 million?
A look at the most logical options among shooting guards and/or small forwards (all players listed are impending unrestricted free agents except those listed in the ‘other possible options’ category):
A part of the midlevel exception
If Powell leaves and Wiggins opts in, Miami would be able to use $11 million of the $15 million midlevel exception. The Heat would have the full $15 million available if Wiggins opts out and signs a multiyear deal with a lower salary.
A chunk of the midlevel likely would not be enough to lure Hornets free agent Coby White — unless the market crashes for him — but could be enough to lure several others. Among them:
▪ Tim Hardaway Jr.: He played for the minimum last season, but that seems unlikely next season, after he finished third in the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year voting behind the Spurs’ Keldon Johnson and former Heat (and soon to the Bucks) forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Hardaway, 34, played in 80 games, with six starts, and averaged 13.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting a career-best 40.7% on three-pointers in his first season with the Nuggets. He has averaged between 11 and 19.1 points each of the past nine seasons.
A deal for the half the midlevel would be reasonable.
▪ Quentin Grimes: The 76ers have salary cap issues and might not be able to accommodate Grimes’ market value. His scoring fell from 21.9 to 13.4 and three-point shooting from 37.3% in 2024-25 to 33.4 in 19 starts and 75 games this past season.
▪ Tobias Harris: Even if the Pistons keep him, he likely will take a significant pay cut from his $26 million salary last season. He averaged 13.3 points and shot 36.8% on threes but played poorly in a Game 7 second-round loss to the Cavaliers.
▪ Harrison Barnes: If Wiggins opts out and then signs elsewhere, the 6-7 Barnes — who can play small forward or power forward — would be a decent stopgap option to split the position with Pelle Larsson.
Barnes’ scoring average dropped to 9.9 this season on a talented Spurs roster, but he shot 38.8% on threes in 77 games and 52 starts.
▪ Kelly Oubre: After settling for a minimum deal with Philadelphia two years ago, he could command something between $5 million and a full midlevel exception after averaging 14.1 points and five rebounds and shooting 36% on threes in 50 games and 41 starts for the 76ers this past season. He’s an explosive stopgap option.
▪ Collin Sexton: Though a backcourt of the 6-3 Sexton and the 6-1 Davion Mitchell would leave Miami undersized, Sexton is a proven scorer, having averaged 15.4 points and shooting 40.1% on threes in 68 games (22 starts) for Charlotte and Chicago last season. He’s a career 18.3 point-per-game scorer and averaged 24.1 for Utah in 2020-21. And his ability to play point guard also is an asset.
▪ Anfernee Simons: Despite the unevenness in his game, his shooting and scoring would be helpful in a world without Powell and Milwaukee-bound Tyler Herro. He earned $25 million last season while averaging 14.3 points and shooting 38.5% on threes in 55 games for Boston and Chicago.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks said “keep your eye on one name [for Miami] — Anfernee Simons. They need perimeter shooting. If he’s willing to go for the veteran’s minimum and maybe restore his value for next year, he would fit in perfectly with this team.”
▪ Keon Ellis: The Cavs, who are above the projected second apron, will be hard-pressed to keep Ellis, a career 40.3% three-point shooter who is considered an excellent perimeter defender at 6-4. He averaged 6.7 points and shot 36.3 on threes in 72 games and 11 starts for Cleveland and Sacramento.
▪ Josh Okogie: An elite 6-4 defender with 7-foot wingspan, Okogie averaged just 4.5 points but shot 42.5% on threes in 78 games and 32 starts for Houston last season. Last season was the first he shot better than 35% on threes, so he’s not the ideal floor-spacer.
▪ Luke Kennard: Shot a league best 47.8% on threes for Atlanta and the Lakers last season, but reports said he would like to stay with the Lakers.
▪ Landry Shamet: After playing the past two seasons on a league-minimum contract, he’s positioned to get more after averaging 9.3 points and shooting 39.2% on threes in 51 regular-season games and 12 starts and then making 18 of 24 threes in playoff series against the 76ers and Cavaliers. He’s also a skilled defender with good size (6-5).
Strictly minimum deals
▪ Kevin Huerter: His three-point shooting — his best NBA skill — has deserted him (30.8% this past season; compared to 37 entering the season) and that’s the worst thing that can happen to a shooter entering free agency. He averaged 10 points per game for Detroit and Chicago last season, but likely will take a big pay cut from $16.2 million.
▪ Cam Thomas: The ignitable 6-3 guard made 24 appearances (eight starts) for Brooklyn, averaging 15.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists before being released. But his market was fairly limited when he signed with Milwaukee, and the Bucks waived him after six weeks when it was clear they wouldn’t be making the play-in.
Considered a one-dimensional player and weak defender, he will need to rebuild his value beyond the minimum. That’s a surprising predicament for a player who averaged 24 points just two years ago.
▪ Jordan Clarkson: The 34-year-old won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award for the 2020-21 season and has established himself as a reliable bench scorer. But while he played in 72 regular-season games and 18 playoff games for the NBA champion Knicks this past season, he shot just 31.8% on threes during those 90 appearances.
▪ Seth Curry: Injuries limited Curry to 10 games last season. Curry, who will be 36 years old in August and is the brother of Warriors star Stephen Curry, has shot an impressive 43.3% on threes during his NBA career. But can Curry (6-1 and 185 pounds) stay healthy at this point of his career?
▪ Gabe Vincent: It was just three years ago that Vincent was the starting point guard for a Heat team that made it to the NBA Finals in 2023. But injuries have bedeviled Vincent at times since he left the Heat in free agency in 2023. Vincent has played in 106 regular-season games over the last three regular seasons.
The 30-year-old has shot 33.8% on threes during his NBA career, but he has proven to be a strong outside shooter during stretches. He’s also a quality perimeter defender.
▪ Bogan Bogdanovic: A skilled offensive player who has averaged 14 points per game on 43.6% shooting from the field and 38.1% shooting on threes during his nine-year NBA career. But the 33-year-old Bogdanovic had a rough year last season with the Clippers, averaging 7.4 points per game on 38.8% shooting from the field and 34.7% shooting from behind the arc.
▪ Khris Middleton: He’s a logical name being linked to the Heat, considering his background with Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee. And though he’s well past his prime and has durability issues, he was decent for the Wizards and Bucks last season, averaging 10.2 points and shooting 36.2% on threes, while starting 50 of 63 appearances. The size (6-7), range, position versatility and leadership skills also are attractive.
▪ Doug McDermott: The 34-year-old, now exclusively a limited minutes backup, shot 43.6% and 39% on threes for the Kings the past two seasons.
▪ De’Anthony Melton: The combo guard averaged 12.3 points for Golden State last season has started 172 NBA games, but is undersized at 6-2 and saw his three-point shooting plunge from 35.8% (career mark) to 29.4 in his one year with the Warriors.
Other possible options
▪ Others who are not free agents, but could become options, include Dallas’ Klay Thompson (if he agrees to a buyout from Dallas, where he’s due to make $17.4 million); OKC’s Isaiah Joe (shot 45.5% on threes but the Thunder needs to trim payroll; it’s difficult to imagine what Miami could offer the Thunder in return); Bradley Beal (has a $5.5 million player option with the Clippers after missing last season with an injury) and 6-5 Bucks shooting guard Gary Trent, who shot 41.6% and 36% on threes the past two seasons but must decide whether to opt out of $3.88 million.
Another name to keep in mind: Former Heat wing Duncan Robinson; only $2 million of his $15.9 million salary is guaranteed if the Pistons waive him by July 10.
The Pistons reportedly have interest in Powell. Though there are sign-and-trade avenues involving Powell with Miami, the Heat could not — by league rule — trade for Robinson, cut him and re-sign him to a cheaper contract.
Also keep an eye on Buddy Hield; only $3 million of his $9.6 million salary is guaranteed, but the Hawks must make a decision by Thursday, per his contract. Hield, who has had interest in the Heat in the past, averaged 7.6 points and shot 34.9% on threes in 51 games for Golden State and Atlanta. He’s a career 39.5% three-point shooter.
This story was originally published June 24, 2026 at 10:17 AM.
