The Miami Heat are continuing their search for shooting to complement their star frontcourt of Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo, and one familiar name has resurfaced. Miami has been in contact with the representatives for veteran guard Bradley Beal, according to Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
The connection is not new, as the Heat have long been linked to Beal dating back to his years in Washington. Beal recently declined his $5.6MM player option with the Clippers to become an unrestricted free agent, a decision that signals he is looking for the right situation over guaranteed money.
The financial picture explains Miami’s approach. The Heat, who will have 12 players under contract once the Antetokounmpo deal is official, project to have up to approximately $6.5MM to offer a free agent using their mid-level exception. That would leave enough room below the first-apron hard cap to add a 14th man on a veteran’s minimum deal.
Miami is being deliberate with that money, however. Chiang and Jackson report the Heat are hoping one of their targets gets squeezed as free agency unfolds, and the team may also be waiting to see what LeBron James decides, given his history and comfort with the organization.
Beal is not the only shooter on the radar. Khris Middleton and Anfernee Simons have also been publicly linked to Miami, per Chiang and Jackson, though Middleton’s age and injury history make him a risky use of a valuable roster spot. Beal carries similar durability concerns, having not appeared in more than 60 games in a season since 2018-19.
For now, the interest is real but early, and whether it becomes a deal may hinge on how the rest of Miami’s offseason dominoes fall.
