The Heat have been in touch with DeMar DeRozan‘s representatives, but there are obstacles to reaching a deal with the veteran free agent, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. A source tells Jackson that at least one team official wants to “wait out the market” before making a commitment to DeRozan to fill one of the three open roster spots.

Jackson hears that DeRozan has interest in coming to Miami, but he also has other suitors, and the Heat can’t make a competitive offer without using a portion of the $8MM remaining in their mid-level exception. Jackson states that Miami’s interest in acquiring Mavericks wing Klay Thompson makes the team reluctant to part with any of its exception for DeRozan or any other free agent. Rival teams with MLE money available have also reached out to DeRozan, so Jackson notes that he has no incentive to settle for a veteran’s minimum deal or to wait several weeks to pick his next team.

Jackson points out that other than James Harden, DeRozan is coming off the most productive season of any unrestricted free agent left on the market. He averaged 18.4 points per game with Sacramento and remains one of the league’s top mid-range shooters, but his below-average three-point percentage doesn’t make him an ideal addition for a team that needs outside threats to combine with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

There’s more from Miami:

• Jackson describes Thompson as the Heat’s “priority,” even though there may not be a way to convince Dallas to part with him. He notes that the Mavs are comfortably below the luxury tax line and don’t have a strong financial incentive to unload Thompson’s expiring $17.5MM contract. If Thompson wants to come to Miami badly enough to accept a buyout that includes a significant pay cut, Jackson notes that the Heat may need to preserve their $8MM in MLE money to make sure Thompson winds up getting close to his current salary. Jackson also states that Marc Stein of the Stein Line reported last month that Dallas prefers to trade Thompson rather than buy him out, and no “viable” deal with Miami has emerged. Thompson, who connected at 38.3% from beyond the arc last season and has the fourth-most made three-pointers in NBA history, would provide the outside shooting that the Heat are looking for.
• Miami officials have also been in touch with Bradley Beal‘s camp, but waiting on Thompson is still the current preference, according to Jackson. Beal, who missed nearly all of last season with a hip injury, became a free agent in late June when he declined his player option with the Clippers. A report earlier today labeled the Heat as “very likely” to wind up with DeRozan or Beal, and possibly both of them.
• The Heat are also hoping to add another big man to their roster, per Jackson, but there aren’t many good options remaining in free agency. Kel’el Ware, who appeared in 77 games last season, was sent to Milwaukee in the Antetokounmpo trade.