The Miami Heat have already reshaped their roster by landing Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster move.
Now, Miami appears determined to keep building around its new superstar as it searches for more experience and depth to climb back into the top tier of the Eastern Conference.
Heat Eyeing 2 Veteran Free Agents After Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade
According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, Miami plans to pursue battle-tested guards Tim Hardaway Jr. and Mike Conley Jr. once free agency opens.
“Free agents Miami is expected to target with its very limited financial flexibility after its blockbuster deal to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee? We’ve heard two names all morning. League sources say that the Heat will have strong interest in the veteran duo of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Mike Conley Jr.,” Stein and Fischer reported Sunday for “The Stein Line.”
League sources tell @JakeLFischer and me that Tim Hardaway Jr. and Mike Conley Jr. are expected to be priority targets in free agency for Miami after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
That’s just one item of MANY in our Sunday Best NBA Intel compilation: https://t.co/1aU9fXdEOU pic.twitter.com/6oHkPU1KbO
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 28, 2026
Both guards bring more than a decade of NBA experience to the table and could fill different roles in Miami’s rotation.
Hardaway enjoyed the stronger campaign of the two during the 2025-26 season. Playing for the Denver Nuggets, he averaged 13.5 points per game across 80 contests.
Although he started in only six games, Hardaway regularly provided scoring and perimeter shooting whenever Denver called on him, shooting 40.7% from 3-point range on 6.9 attempts a night.
Meanwhile, Conley had a much quieter season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 19-year veteran averaged 4.5 points and 2.9 assists per game over 54 outings, including 15 starts. Still, he offers value as a steady playmaker and respected locker room leader.
Conley’s age remains the biggest concern as he enters free agency. He will turn 39 before next season begins, and the former All-Star is no longer the player he was during his prime years with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Conley’s production has dropped sharply over the past two seasons, and his shooting numbers have fallen well below his career standards. Because of this, Sports Illustrated’s Amir Motameni believes Miami should prioritize surrounding Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo with a dependable backcourt bench scorer.
“If the Heat plan to add another guard, they should focus on one who can be a reliable scorer off the bench,” Motameni wrote. “Davion Mitchell and Dru Smith are both defensive-minded guards, so the Heat need a floor spacer and dynamic guard.”
Despite Conley’s outstanding league-wide reputation, the Heat would also likely benefit more from investing in younger players who can handle larger workloads throughout the season.
However, the free agent market does not offer many ideal bargain options. If the Heat ultimately values Conley’s leadership and experience above everything else, signing him could still be a reasonable move despite the concerns about his waning production.
