Rumors have linked the Miami Heat to possibly signing a superstar free agent. Gordon Hayward is expected to meet with the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and several other teams when NBA free agency opens this week. This could be a huge addition for Miami, as Hayward could fill out a starting lineup that already includes point guard Goran Dragic and center Hassan Whiteside. Can Heat team president Pat Riley make it happen?
After failing to make the 2017 NBA Playoffs, the latest Miami Heat rumors all indicate that the team will be looking to make a huge splash when free agency finally begins.
There are a lot of star players expected to be available, so Miami also isn't limited to just Gordon Hayward. Adding a player who can score around 20 points a night would be perfect for the offense, though, especially if the franchise can keep most of the current roster intact.
Who else is available during NBA free agency?
Los Angeles Clippers All-Star power forward Blake Griffin will also be a free agent and there is a strong possibility that he could be looking to sign with a new franchise. Griffin could bring a lot of fans to the arena if he were to sign with the Miami Heat. Serge Ibaka, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Taj Gibson, and Danilo Gallinari are other players who will also be highly coveted by NBA teams beginning on July 1.
Could one of them also fit nicely with Dragic and Whiteside?
There is going to be a lot of competition for players like Blake Griffin, as not only can he average around 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, but he brings that "star power" to ticket sales. Fans get excited by the dunks he can do on offense, which sometimes overshadows the weaknesses in his game.
This does add value to Griffin when it comes to free agency, possibly making him someone who Pat Riley could use to generate more revenue for the team next year.
Can the Miami Heat really afford to sign Gordon Hayward?
These Miami Heat rumors work because the team is expected to have the salary of Chris Bosh taken off the cap.
Bosh may be done playing basketball due to blood clots. This will allow the team a lot of extra money this offseason, enabling them to not only afford a Gordon Hayward contract, but also several other good role players in free agency. Those role players could also be acquired through trades if the right deal gets worked out with another franchise.
The first step to getting the deal done is to have a good meeting with Gordon Hayward, which is expected to take place on the first day that free agents can meet with new teams (July 1). It will be important for Pat Riley to "sell" his team to Hayward and his agent better than Boston Celtics team president Danny Ainge, as they will push hard to land him as well. No matter how the meeting with Hayward goes, fans should expect a lot of additional Miami Heat rumors linking the team to some big names this offseason.
