NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason targets for the Miami Heat
By Ynal Al-Ouri
After barely missing the playoffs last season, the Miami Heat will be looking to make waves in free agency.
The 2016-17 season was bizarre for the Miami Heat, yet one of their most enjoyable seasons to watch. Their beloved superstar Dwyane Wade bolted town for the Bulls, and their other star Chris Bosh missed the entire season due to health complications.
They started the season off at 11-30, in what looked to be a rebuilding season to land a top draft pick. Then all of a sudden the Heat caught lightning in a bottle and finished the rest of the season at 30-11. This is including a 13-game winning streak that put the league on notice.
It was an impressive showing from a team that was battling injuries all season, and featured a few players who finally seemed to unlock their potential in a Miami uniform. Armed with a plethora of cap space, and with the godfather Pat Riley running the show, the Heat will be looking to be big spenders this summer. Here are five off season targets for the Miami Heat.
5. Danilo Gallinari
Although he hasn’t been able to shake the injury bug thus far in his career, Danilo Gallinari has proved to be one of the best scoring forwards in the league. He has averaged over 16 points per game in three out of the last four seasons, and continues to knock down 3-pointers at a solid rate.
Gallinari is also a great free throw shooter as evident by his 86 percent career mark there, and his size allows him to be versatile enough to play both forward positions. The Heat will be looking to make a huge upgrade to their starting forward positions, as they struggled to find much production for their starters there last season.
Gallinari would bring the scoring and rebounding ability that Miami has missed from Bosh, and he would be able to help spread the floor so Hassan Whiteside can go to work in the paint. Gallinari would need to stay healthy for the duration of the season, which is certainly capable with the Heat, where they have helped so many players transform their careers and bodies for the better.