After finally completing a blockbuster trade to land Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, the Miami Heat have their sights set on further bolstering their roster.
An unrestricted free agent who was on a four-year, $100,000,000 contract is firming up as the Heat’s latest target.
Insider Claims $100,000,000 Guard Could Be Next Miami Heat Target
The Heat have one of the most formidable frontcourts in the NBA, centered around Bam Adebayo and Antetokounmpo. However, the backcourt appears to be in serious need of reinforcements following the departure of Tyler Herro and, quite possibly, Norman Powell.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks believes that Miami could now look to target some under-the-radar players to fill out its roster. He cited Anfernee Simons as a possible target for the three-time NBA champions.
“I think [you should] keep an eye on one name – Anfernee Simons. They need perimeter shooting for this Heat team. He’s a free agent out there. If he’s willing to basically go for the veteran minimum, play out a year, and maybe restore his value for next year. He would fit in perfectly with this team,” he said.
Simons’ perimeter shooting and versatility as a guard could make him an exciting option for the Heat. He averaged 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game last season, going 38.5% from the three-point line.
However, Simons was on a 4-year, $100,000,000 contract last season and would have to take a significant pay cut to join the Heat. So it remains to be seen whether this move could realistically come to fruition.
Simons most recently played for the Chicago Bulls after being traded from the Boston Celtics in February. He showed glimpses of his skills with the Celtics but wasn’t able to perform at the top level consistently. The Celtics are reportedly considering bringing back the 6-foot-3 guard, who averaged 14.2 points per game during his time in Boston.
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Injuries forced him to play just 6 games for the Bulls. And Marks believes he could consider taking a one-year veteran’s minimum contract to showcase his skills with a contender and rebuild his market value.
Miami is hard-capped at the first apron, leaving Pat Riley and co. with only the veteran minimums and a mid-level exception to sign new players. The contracts of Andrew Wiggins and Powell will further determine exactly how much flexibility the Heat have to sign new players.
