This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 11:15 AM.<\/p>\n
Part 2 of a two-part series.<\/p>\n
The Heat again played with a size deficit for much of the season, sometimes because of roster deficiencies and sometimes because coach Erik Spoelstra had a love\/hate relationship with a two-big lineup of Bam Adebayo and Kel\u2019el Ware.<\/p>\n
If the Heat trades Ware this offseason, or if team brass decides that Adebayo needs a different power rotation player alongside him and Ware coming off the bench, Miami will have options in free agency. Not great options, but options.<\/p>\n
For the first time in years, the Heat should be able to use its largest salary cap exception without being in danger of surpassing the luxury tax line.<\/p>\n
So what can Miami realistically get with that $15.1 million nontaxpayer mid-level exception? There are a dozen potential rotation players (at power forward or center) who could fit into midlevel money (or significantly less). But there\u2019s no clear-cut starter in the group.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a look at those options among unrestricted free agents:<\/p>\n
\u25aa Nic Vucevic: A finger injury sidelined him for several weeks, but he\u2019s back for Boston\u2019s playoff run. Because of age (35) and defensive deficiencies, it\u2019s conceivable he might need to settle for something closer to the minimum than his $20 million salary this season.<\/p>\n
There should be some level of interest in a player who has averaged 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and shot 36.9% on threes this season for the Bulls and Celtics. In his prime, the 6-9 Vucevic would have been an ideal complement to Adebayo, despite the limited footspeed and defensive shortcomings. Now, he could possibly be helpful in more modest minutes, though its comes with a defensive cost.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Rui Hachimura: Ideally, the Heat would target someone who\u2019s taller than 6-8 (which is one inch taller than Andrew Wiggins). But Hachimura has the range (44.3% on threes) and offensive punch (11.5 points per game) and switchability defensively to fit neatly into Erik Spoelstra\u2019s smaller ball lineups.<\/p>\n
But he\u2019s not a very good rebounder: 3.3 per game in 41 starts and 68 appearances for the Lakers this season. So playing Hachimura at power forward and Adebayo at center would leave Miami vulnerable on the boards against big frontcourts.<\/p>\n
Whether he\u2019s forced to settle for midlevel money comes down to the Lakers\u2019 appetite to give him a new, more lucrative deal.<\/p>\n
\u25aa John Collins: Does Utah recommit to a player who has gone from a 21-point, 10.5-rebound borderline All-Star in Atlanta in 2019-2020 to a 13.6-point, 5.6-rebound player in 69 games and 56 starts for the Jazz this season? If not, the former West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman standout might end up getting only a part of midlevel money.<\/p>\n
Though the rebounding now is middling, the size (6-9) and shooting (40.6% on threes) would be helpful for the Heat, even off the bench. Nikola Jovic was extended with the thought that he could assume that role, but he took a significant step back this season.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Kristaps Porzingis: Buyer beware here, because of a mystery illness that has sidelined him for significant stretches the past two seasons. Because of those issues, he seems more likely to command something closer to the minimum than midlevel, whether it\u2019s with his current team (Golden State) or another.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Mitchell Robinson and Robert Williams II: Two stout defenders and physical specimens at different stages of their career. Robinson, 27, has been decent for the Knicks but not as effective as earlier in his career.<\/p>\n
Because of injuries, Williams \u2014 for Portland \u2014 isn\u2019t quite as good as the player who was excellent for Boston as a starter four years ago. But he is still an effective player, as he demonstrated Tuesday night with his dunk that lifted Portland past the Spurs in Game 2 of their playoff series.<\/p>\n
Williams could make some sense as a natural backup to Adebayo if Ware is dealt. Robinson likely will seek a starting job somewhere. Lineups with Adebayo would face spacing issues with either player.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Jusuf Nurkic: He appeared in 49 games (36 starts) for Utah and averaged 10.9 points and 10.4 rebounds. Because of his limited range (career 29% on threes), he wouldn\u2019t make sense for Miami alongside Adebayo. And health has always been an issue with him. But if the Heat commits to a Ware\/Adebayo starting tandem, Nurkic would have value as a backup center.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Mo Wagner: Played decently on a one-year, $5 million deal. Could opt to stick in Orlando with his brother, Franz. The production has been modest (6.9 points, 3.2 rebounds). And he lacks sufficient range (32.3 career on threes, 31.4 this season) in 36 games, all off the bench.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Dean Wade: Has size (6-9), range (36.2 on threes) and started 38 of 59 appearances for Cleveland this season, averaging 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds. The Cavs, well above the luxury tax this season, have a decision to make on a player who\u2019s making $6.2 million.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Jock Landale: Played well for Memphis and Atlanta this season (10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds). Has size (6-11) and three-point range (38.3% this season). The Hawks could try to keep him. For Miami, he\u2019s certainly worth considering.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Marvin Bagley II. The former second overall pick out of Duke has become the quintessential journeyman. But he has size (6-10), can put up numbers for bad teams and is still young (26). He averaged 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games and 12 starts for Dallas and Washington this season.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Others: Thirty-somethings Kevin Love, Andre Drummond, Larry Nance Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Bismack Biyombo and Dwight Powell, who all remain functional but more in the minimum-salary range\u2026 Zach Collins has the size (6-11) and three-point shooting that would make him an interesting option at the minimum or a fraction of the midlevel. ..<\/p>\n
The Lakers\u2019 Maxi Kleber has size (6-10) but is nothing more than a backup and fringe rotation player at this point\u2026 Guerschon Yabulesle, a sweet-shooting 6-7 power forward, signed a two-year, $11.5 million deal with the Knicks last summer but received modest minutes and was traded to Chicago in February, where he made 26 appearances (19 starts) and averaged 10.1 points and shot 38.3% on threes.<\/p>\n
Among other impending free agents: Nick Richards, a decent rebounder with size (6-11), who made six starts in 48 games for the Bulls and Suns this season; has no three-point range\u2026<\/p>\n
Precious Achiuwa, who ended up starting for the Kings after the Heat cut him at the end of training camp and put up numbers (10.1 points, 6.7 rebounds in 73 games). But this could be a case of been there, done that with Achuiwa, Thomas Bryant and Kyle Anderson, who all will be free agents. And Achiuwa\u2019s appetite to return after being cut could be dubious, regardless\u2026<\/p>\n
Disappointing Jaxson Hayes and Dru Eubanks have no three-point range and could end up close to minimum deals.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s part 1 of the series, our look at wing players<\/a> who could be fits at the mid-level exception or more modest deals.<\/p>\n This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 11:15 AM.<\/p>\n
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