It’s three days into 2024 NBA Free Agency and the Miami Heat are left behind, especially as the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks have retooled their rosters, while the Boston Celtics managed to maintain their championship-winning core.
As it stands, the Miami Heat have only re-signed Kevin Love on a two-year deal, while they’ve added Keshad Johnson, Zion Pullin, and Dru Smith to two-way contracts and acquired Kel’el Ware and Pelle Larsson via this summer’s NBA Draft.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald revealed the Miami Heat have yet to make a big swing this summer because of Pat Riley being selective in negotiations.
“Miami has made either no effort or little effort to acquire several players who might have helped in recent years because of off-court baggage, questions about their coachability or their contracts,” Jackson wrote in his column.
“The Heat decided not to try to acquire Beal last summer because of his no-trade clause, according to the Heat. The Heat were hesitant to aggressively pursue Irving when Brooklyn made him available, and a person directly involved with Kyle Lowry said the Heat assured Kyle Lowry — two years ago — that he would not be traded for Irving,” he added.
Miami Heat reportedly interested in DeMar DeRozan but are unlikely to get him
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald added that the Miami Heat are keen on getting free agent DeMar DeRozan amid reported mutual interest.
The six-time NBA All-Star is one of the best shot-creators in the league, averaging 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game on 48.0 percent shooting during the 2023-24 campaign for the Chicago Bulls.
However, the only way for them to sign DeRozan is through the team’s $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception or a minimum contract, and the 34-year-old forward isn’t expected to take a massive pay cut.
