MIAMI — Within hours of the Miami Heat trading away ample resources for Giannis Antetokounmpo, a scout for an opposing team noted, “They don’t have any guards left.”
Hyperbole? To a degree. But such was the cost of dealing away Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionis and Jaime Jaquez Jr., in a trade that might have left them without the salary-cap resources to bring back Norman Powell.
So, yes, still with Davion Mitchell and Pelle Larsson as returning rotation components, and still with Dru Smith in reserve, along with several neophytes. But the backcourt restoration program would seem to set up as the next Heat course of business.
Limited to a figure south of $20 million in remaining spending power unless other deals shake up the Heat’s current projected 2026-27 payroll, the easiest path to hard-cap compliance would be four free agents at something close to the veteran minimum or perhaps slightly higher.
So, no, probably not a shooting star. But, still, options when free agency opens next Tuesday.
Simone Fontecchio: The Italian veteran ran hot and cold with his 3-point shooting after he was acquired by the Heat from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Duncan Robinson last July.
While there won’t be another $8.3 million salary from the Heat, there could be enough comfort to offer a minimal deal to the 30-year-old free agent who already is familiar with the Heat system and has expressed a desire to return.
Tim Hardaway Jr.: Linked for years to the Heat, the son of Heat legend Tim Hardaway would stand as a logical replacement to Jaquez, having placed third in the voting for 2026 Sixth Man of the Year behind only runner-up Jaquez and winner Keldon Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs.
An unrestricted free agent after earning $3.6 million last season with the Denver Nuggets, Hardaway, 34, could be forced to move on from the cap-crunched Nuggets despite shooting .406 on 3-pointers last season.
Khris Middleton: At 34, Middleton thrived earlier in his career alongside Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, with the two sharing in the Bucks’ 2021 NBA championship.
Limited by injuries in recent years, Middleton shot a respectable .391 on 3-pointers after he was acquired by the Dallas Mavericks last season.
Coming off a $35 million salary last season, with his free agency unlikely to draw more than a minimal salary, Middleton is the type of veteran the Heat typically add after a major, win-now personnel acquisition such as Antetokounmpo.
Duncan Robinson: There is no certainty that the former Heat guard gets to free agency, but he is in a curious position, with only $2 million of his $16 million 2026-27 salary guaranteed. With the Pistons potentially in a cap crunch, there could be a move with Robinson.
That could have Robinson available in free agency or perhaps in a trade at a salary between his guarantee and what he otherwise would have to receive from the Pistons.
There would be worse outcomes than a 2.0 with the Heat’s all-time 3-point leader.
Gabe Vincent: Speaking of former Heat players, there was a time when Vincent was a reliable 3-point threat for the Heat all the way through the 2023 playoff run to the NBA Finals. Then he cashed in during free agency a month later with the Lakers.
Now, having arrived as a trade throw-in to the Atlanta Hawks last season, Vincent again is back in free agency, this time likely seeking to reset both from a salary standpoint and foothold standpoint, at 30 an unrestricted free agent coming off an $11.5 million salary.
Buddy Hield: Like Robinson, Hield holds a partial guarantee ($3 million) on his $9.6 million 2026-27 salary. But after such limited use with the wing-abundant Hawks, a parting with Atlanta seems likely.
At 33, there still appears to be something left, shooting .412 in his limited action in Atlanta after his trade from Golden State.
Kevin Huerter: While Huerter enters free agency after earning $18 million last season, he largely has been reduced to trade ballast in moving over the past three seasons from the Sacramento Kings to the Chicago Bulls to the Pistons.
Next up could be a shift to a minimal deal for the 27-year-old guard whose 3-point shooting has been off his career .368 percentage in recent seasons.
Malik Beasley: For a Heat team emerging from the Terry Rozier episode, this would be the most unexpected of unexpected, with Beasley out of the league this past season due to a gambling investigation.
Beasley, 29, shot .413 and .416 on high-volume 3-point shooting in the two seasons prior to sitting out this past season.
Anfernee Simons: Although speculated as a Heat possibility in free agency, it would be quite the step back to a minimal deal for a player who earned $27.7 million last season.
But having been bounced from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Boston Celtics to the Bulls over the past year, the .381 career 3-point shooter could find worse spots to find ample opportunity to reset.
Landry Shamet: A perfect example of shooting value on a minimal contract, after Shamet helped the Knicks to this past season’s championship, stepping up with .475 3-point shooting in the playoffs..
Still, the Knicks are hard up against the punitive second apron of the luxury tax, which could leave him squeezed out of anything but the minimum in New York.