As the Heat look to continue adding shooting to complement their star frontcourt of Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo, they have been in touch with the representatives for veteran guard Bradley Beal, according to Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
The Heat, who will have 12 players under contract once the Antetokounmpo deal is official, still project to have up to approximately $6.5MM to offer a free agent using their mid-level exception. That would give the team enough room below the first-apron hard cap to add a 14th man on a veteran’s minimum deal.
However, Chiang and Jackson write that the Heat are being cautious with their remaining money, hoping that one of their targets could be squeezed as free agency unfolds. They could also be waiting to see what LeBron James decides — a reunion with Miami could be an option for the four-time MVP due to his history and comfort level with the organization.
Either way, it’s unclear how much the Heat would be willing to offer Beal in a deal. He recently turned down a $5.6MM player option with the Clippers, which could indicate that he’s looking for more than that on the open market, but the opportunity to play in Miami for a potential contender could be appealing enough to warrant a pat cut.
Miami has had chances to trade for the sharpshooting guard in the past but has chosen other routes, though the no-trade clause Beal held during his time with the Wizards was a factor in some of those cases.
Khris Middleton and Anfernee Simons have also been publicly linked to the Heat, Chiang and Jackson note, but it remains to be seen how much interest Miami has in either player. Middleton has been a subject of speculation due to his longstanding relationship with Antetokounmpo, but the 34-year-old has struggled to stay healthy, making him potentially a risky use of a valuable roster spot.
The Heat haven’t ruled out Middleton, but they also weren’t in contact with him early in free agency, per the Miami Herald’s duo. Chiang and Jackson add that Miami hasn’t made Simons an offer, speculating that he might be looking for more than the club could give him.
