The Miami Heat are preparing to be active in the coming free agency as they look to strengthen their roster after landing Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade. Even with one of the league’s biggest stars now in Miami, the team still has several areas to address before the new season begins.
Heat Reportedly Monitoring Five Experienced Free Agents
According to Jake Fischer in Marc Stein’s Substack newsletter, Miami has expanded its list of veteran targets ahead of the official start of NBA free agency.
“On Sunday, we reported that veteran guards Tim Hardaway Jr. and Mike Conley Jr. – especially Hardaway – would be priority targets for Miami in free agency given the very limited financial flexibility it has to fill out the rest of its roster post-Antetokounmpo trade.”
“Yet we must add longtime former Heat trade target Bradley Beal, Heat alumnus Gabe Vincent and Antetokounmpo’s old friend and teammate Khris Middleton to the list of players also on Miami’s radar,” reported Fischer.
Because of the financial constraints created by the Antetokounmpo trade, team president Pat Riley and the front office are expected to be aggressive in the veteran-minimum market rather than pursuing expensive free agents.
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Earlier reports from The Stein Line identified Tim Hardaway Jr. and Mike Conley Jr. as two of Miami’s top priorities.
Both guards bring more than a decade of NBA experience and could provide steady backcourt depth for a team looking to compete right away.
Adding reliable outside shooting has become one of Miami’s biggest goals. With Antetokounmpo and three-time All-Star Bam Adebayo expected to be the foundation of the offense, the Heat want to surround them with players who can consistently space the floor and make open shots.
One player who fits that need is Bradley Beal. The three-time NBA All-Star is now an unrestricted free agent, and reports indicate the interest between Beal and the Heat is mutual. Beal became available after opting out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.
His 2025-26 season was limited to only six games because of a fractured left hip, but when healthy, he remains one of the league’s proven scorers and perimeter shooters. His ability to score from the outside could make him a valuable addition next to Antetokounmpo.
The Heat is also searching for more depth at guard, which brings Gabe Vincent back into the conversation.
Vincent played some of the best basketball of his career in Miami and was an important part of the team’s run to the 2023 NBA Finals under head coach Erik Spoelstra. He understands Miami’s defensive system and has shown he can play effectively without needing the ball in his hands.
Since leaving the Heat, Vincent spent time with the Los Angeles Lakers before later joining the Atlanta Hawks. His three-year, $33 million contract has now expired, making him an unrestricted free agent. Vincent remains a dependable defender, keeps the offense moving, and can knock down three-point shots.
Another veteran drawing Miami’s attention is Khris Middleton.
The three-time All-Star spent 12 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he formed one of the NBA’s best partnerships alongside Antetokounmpo. Middleton played a major role in helping Milwaukee capture the 2021 NBA championship and built a reputation as one of the league’s most dependable clutch scorers and mid-range shooters.
Now 34 years old and an unrestricted free agent, Middleton could reunite with Antetokounmpo in Miami. His championship experience and ability to create offense in important moments would give the Heat another proven veteran presence.
Miami is hoping these additions can help the franchise return to title contention. The Heat last won an NBA championship in the 2013 NBA Finals, and the team is looking to end that long drought.
NBA free agency officially opens at 6 p.m. Tuesday, giving Miami its first opportunity to begin reshaping the roster around Antetokounmpo and arm itself for championship contention.
