The offseason can bring various feelings. Players can get away on vacation and recharge, which is a plus for the fans. We want these guys at their best year in and year out. But sometimes, the offseason brings heart-racing terror for fans as players leave their team’s rosters via free agency.
The Heat have their share of players they could potentially lose due to financial restrictions. No one wants to see players we developed walk for nothing, but that’s the business sometimes.
Six Heat players can enter free agency one way or another this offseason. A fan favorite may be on the move, but let’s see who’s staying.
We’ll rank them from least likely to leave to most likely to be playing for another team next season.
7. Josh Richardson
After finding his rhythm during the second half of the season (37% on 4.4 3PA over his last 19 games), Josh Richardson suffered a dislocated shoulder that shut him down for the year in February. He showed he could be a clog in the Heat’s system again. He made open looks and picked up his defense as he struggled mightily earlier in the year.
Richardson has a player option for $3 million this off-season. Given his recent injury and the fact that he didn’t show enough oomph to warrant a better contract from general managers, he definitely locks in. He’s rehabbing his shoulder and will likely want to prove himself again before seeking a bigger contract. He’ll want to show that he can still be a plus off-ball playmaker while being a good on-ball defender.
6. Kevin Love
This man is honestly the best outlet passer since Wes Unseld Jr., though Nikola Jokic is right on his heels. But Kevin Love is the current king of the outlet pass. That pass jumpstarts many Heat offensive possessions that would otherwise die in a short two-point attempt many times. Love shows his championship pedigree with how he carries himself on the floor. He’s 35 years old, still crashing the glass like a crash dummy, sacrificing his body, taking charges.
Although his three-point shooting has been streaky, teams still sell out like he’s 2014 Kevin Love. It’s virtually impossible to shake any reputation you form in the NBA. This works in Love’s favor, as he still provides spacing even when he’s bricking shots.
I see him accepting his $4 million player option and keeping 42 in South Beach.
5. Thomas Bryant
Things didn’t go quite as planned after the Heat acquired Thomas Bryant last summer, but he did have a few bright moments during the season’s final stretch. Maybe he’ll be more comfortable under Spo and company for another year. Maybe the Heat can get Bryant, who shot 40% from three on low volume.
Bryant wouldn’t be a hot commodity if he rejected his $2 million player option and entered free agency. He’ll be back in Miami next year.
The question is whether he will be in the rotation or not. With Zach Edey constantly being linked to the Heat in the year’s draft, will Edey take the backup big minutes? Or will the Heat draft Edey with the expectation that Bam Adebayo will shoot threes more consistently, sliding Bam to the four? Things are in the air for Bryant’s playing time-wise, but he’ll be back.
4. Delon Wright
Delon Wright’s addition was a feel-good story, since his older brother Dorell was a beloved Heat teammate once upon a time. Wright was waived by the Wizards during the All-Star break and signed in Miami, but his season never got on track after that.
It took a while for Wright to meet the Heat’s conditioning standards and get on the court and, when he did, he was a streaky 3-point shooter. He did provide consistently solid defense at the point of attack.
At 32, Wright has a few good years left and could be a helpful piece off the bench. The Heat should consider bringing him back at the minimum.
3. Haywood Highsmith
Haywood Highsmith wants to be back in Miami, but would the Heat match any offer he gets? They should. Highsmith never stops on the floor. He slides his feet on defense. He’s a pickpocket expert. Haywood mirrors some of the best scorers in the league when he matches up with them. There’s no questioning his defense, but three-point shooting is the skill that determines if he can stay on the floor or not.
Haywood shot well from three to close the regular season but plummeted to 18% during the pivotal playoffs. That’s when we want players to be at their best, but the spacing and driving wasn’t the same with Jimmy Butler out of the lineup. I don’t think Haywood is the 40% shooter he was in the regular season or the 18% shooter he was in the playoffs. He’s somewhere in the middle and worth the contact, and he desires to stay in Miami. Don’t let a good one get away.
2. Patty Mills
Patty Mills doesn’t have a massive contract. He made $2 million last year and is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Miami could bring him back if they choose, but that hasn’t much upside. Mills offers a solid base of good shooting and pesky defense, but it’s not a must for Mills to return.
Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, and potential draft picks fill the Heats’ guard room. This group has a mix of funky ball-handling, post-game, and excellent three-point shooting. These three are very different, bringing their unique spices to the kitchen. Mills’ skill overlaps in a few of these areas; he’s just not as good and a little older. Mills is 36 years old and less impactful than his veteran teammate, Kevin Love. He’s a good guy and a solid vet in the locker room. That’s a plus attribute, but nothing on the court screamed, “Bring Patty Mills back.”
1. Caleb Martin
Seeing Caleb Martin’s departure from Miami won’t be pretty, so Heat fans, brace yourselves. Martin has a player option he can accept or reject for $7 million. That’s the largest amount of money mentioned in this piece. Sure, it’s a hefty amount of money, but Martin is worth much more.
Trading for Terry Rozier made things difficult for the Heat, but that was the price of business.
Resigning Martin wasn’t going to be a walk in the park anyway. His success is the most impressive of all the Miami Heat projects.
Who can forget his dominant 2023 playoff run? His eyebrow-raising performance against the Boston Celtics is cemented in Heat history as one of the best role-player performances. He averaged 19 points, shooting a bonkers 49% on six three-point attempts. That series lives on, and Martin’s tenacity, courage, and feisty defense are why he’ll get paid.
He may demand anywhere from $15-17 million per year. The Heat can’t afford a contract like that for Martin, but someone else will gladly give the 28-year-old twin exactly what he’s worth.
It was a pleasure watching Martin zig-zag all over the floor. His hustle won’t easily be replaced, but Heat fans should be happy for him. He’ll be getting what he deserves.