{"id":327212,"date":"2026-07-02T12:57:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T12:57:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/327212\/"},"modified":"2026-07-02T12:57:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T12:57:25","slug":"report-miami-heat-targeting-former-celtics-100-million-rising-star-guard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/327212\/","title":{"rendered":"Report: Miami Heat Targeting Former Celtics $100 Million Rising Star Guard"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Boston\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

MIAMI, FLORIDA – JANUARY 15: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat makes a move against Payton Pritchard #11 and Anfernee Simons #4 of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on January 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Megan Briggs\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The Miami Heat\u2019s quest to fill up the roster while also surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> and Bam Adebayo<\/a> with decent pieces will come down to veteran or mid-level deals.<\/p>\n

Miami already signed veteran sharpshooter Tim Hardaway<\/a> Jr. to a one-year, $6.5 million deal, and is now linked to Anfernee Simons<\/a> as a potential target.<\/p>\n

According to Bleacher Report\u2019s Jake Fischer, Simons moving to South Beach is a huge possibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still believe Anfernee Simons is an addition for Miami,\u201d Fischer said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Given the Heat position just barely below the first apron, their offseason moves will hinge on additions like this. They will get quality without overstretching the cap well above the luxury limit.<\/p>\n

Simons, 27, could prove to be an important offensive addition to complement the Heat frontcourt star power.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Miami Heat\u2019s Stance on Simons
\n\"Indiana\"Indiana<\/p>\n

GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS \u2013 JANUARY 21: Anfernee Simons #4 of the Boston Celtics<\/a> looks on against the Indiana Pacers<\/a> during the second half at TD Garden on January 21, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n

Simons is an unrestricted free agent after completing his four-year, $100 million extension with the Portland Trail Blazers<\/a>, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls<\/a>. It makes him one of the cap-friendly additions that the Heat could make.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Hardaway signing used part of Miami\u2019s mid-level exception, which means it is now operating as an over-the-cap team but retains tools like the non-taxpayer mid-level exception and potential trade exceptions for maneuvering.<\/p>\n

The Heat are looking for at least two more additions to the roster, but not enough in terms of financial pull. Andrew Wiggins\u2019 new $64 million extension took some more space, but his deal is structured in a way that pays him $34 million over the last two years of the three-year deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wiggins\u2019 deal makes future cap flexibility look good for the Heat, but for now, they will have to use their limited mid-level exception to get pieces. The general interests have been towards getting floor spacers and shooters so Antetokounmpo can operate. Hardaway is one, and Simons is also one.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Simons is a much younger, higher-upside option who can handle the ball and create off the dribble. He will fit right into Miami\u2019s system.<\/p>\n

What Simons Can Contribute
\n\"Miami\"Miami<\/p>\n

GettyPORTLAND, OREGON \u2013 FEBRUARY 27: Anfernee Simons #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks to shoot against Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat<\/a> during the first half at Moda Center on February 27, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Soobum Im\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Simons had a drop year in 2025-26 due to a lack of starting minutes as well as an injury later on in the year. Having moved from Portland to Boston, he couldn\u2019t crack into the starting guard role because of Jaylen Brown<\/a>. He had no starts in all 49 games he played for the Celtics.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He was then dealt to the Bulls before the trade deadline and appeared in only six games before being shut down due to injury.<\/p>\n

It was a shame because Simons showed flashes of star potential in Portland. He enjoyed an upward trajectory with the Blazers, posting career-high scoring averages in peak starter minutes, efficient shooting, and improving playmaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At 6-foot-3, he can offer a much more consistent shooting with a career average of 38.1% from 3, which is better than Hardaway\u2019s, even with more attempts. Although Hardaway has been around much longer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Simons would have to rediscover his Portland form in Miami. Limited roles in Boston and Chicago curtailed his usage, but a fresh start with consistent starting minutes could unlock the scoring guard who once averaged over 21 points as a primary option.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAdel Ahmad<\/a> Adel is a writer with over five years of experience covering the NBA. His work has appeared on various media platforms, both national and local. More about Adel Ahmad<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty MIAMI, FLORIDA – JANUARY 15: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat makes a move against Payton…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":327213,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[123,125,124],"class_list":["post-327212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-miami","tag-miami","tag-miami-headlines","tag-miami-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=327212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327212\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/327213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=327212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=327212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=327212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}