Blake Griffin and Danilo Gallinari have now become the top-2 free agency targets for the Miami Heat, as it becomes a lot clearer now that Gordon Hayward will re-sign with the Utah Jazz. The Heat, who will have at least $32 million in cap room this summer, are now setting their sight on the other max-level frontcourt players. Gallinari has already decided that he will opt out of his contract with the Nuggets and hit the market, while Griffin is widely expected to use his termination clause on his contract as well.
Griffin to Heat scenario
While many NBA insiders are still high on the Clippers re-signing their All-Star power forward, the Heat are viewed as the team that could potentially pique Griffin’s interest.
The Heat doesn’t have an all-star on their roster, but they have a promising guard-and-center combo in Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside, and a championship-winning coach in Erik Spoelstra. Moreover, the Heat’s trump card remains president and GM Pat Riley, who sweet-talked his way to bringing Shaquille O’Neal on board in 2004 and forming the Big 3 of LeBron, Wade, and Bosh in 2010.
Jared Dudley, a former teammate of Griffin with the Clips, believes the Heat have a solid shot at Griffin because of its location and no state tax policy. Still, he stressed that the Clippers are still the favorites to re-sign the All-Star and All-NBA forward.
Gallinari to South Beach
Gallinari is another intriguing free agency target the Heat is closely monitoring.
The 6-foot-10 sweet-shooting forward led the Nuggets last season in scoring with 18.7 ppg on 44.7 percent FG shooting and 38 percent from the 3-point line. Although re-signing with the Nuggets is still Gallinari’s first choice, many NBA Insiders believe Gallinari could be had by a team willing to throw in a max deal. The Heat obviously can afford Gallinari’s price, though committing with the Italian could also mean goodbye for Dion Waiters, James Johnson, and Willie Reed, who outperformed their contracts last season.
Winslow’s development as potent defensive stopper
Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel really thinks Winslow could have made the difference in the hypothetical playoff match-up between the Celtics and the Heat. Miami fell short in clinching the 8th seed in the East after the Bulls earned that right by beating the undermanned Nets on the last day of the regular-season.
According to Winderman, Winslow may never turn into a one-on-one LeBron stopper, but he could have certainly helped the Heat in countering the Cavs’ star.
“For all the concern about Justise's shooting issues, don't lose sight of the fact of how he yet could emerge as an elite perimeter stopper. And as long as LeBron also is in the East, such a counter is essential,” Winderman said on his mailbag.
