Heat: 1 trade and 1 free agent signing for Miami to win the offseason

1 free agent the Miami Heat can sign to win the offseason: Guard Lonzo Ball

The one glaring weakness about the Heat last season was the lack of effectiveness at the point guard position. Kendrick Nunn was in and out of the lineup, Dragic was used as a scoring spark off the bench, and Tyler Herro doesn’t fit the mold of a true point guard. It was mainly up to Adebayo and Butler to orchestrate Miami’s offense.

They do a good job, but having a point guard running the show gives both players more opportunities to excel at their strengths.

The best solution to the Heat’s point guard problems is signing Lonzo Ball via free agency. The former No. 2 overall pick has gradually improved since he entered the league, and 2020-2021 was his best season yet.

He averaged a career-high 14,6 points per game and dished out 5.7 assists. The biggest improvement to his game has been his shooting, as he hit 37.8% of his shots from beyond the arc, a personal best.

Ball’s ability to make plays for others is what the Heat desperately need at point guard. Starting plays from the top of the key is very different from running sets in the post. Butler, Riley and Spoelstra will appreciate his basketball IQ, meaning he should earn their trust quickly. That will lead to more control of the offense, where he can use his instincts to help the team.

Standing at 6-foot-6 and an 81-inch wingspan, his length is everything the Heat could want. He uses his length on defense, plucking opponents and reaching into passing lanes. He can guard either guard spot and even small forwards in a small-ball lineup. The defensive versatility is always something Miami looks for, and Ball fits the mold perfectly.

The playmaking ability, defensive excellence and basketball IQ make Ball a great free-agent target for Miami, but what will it cost to sign him? His 2020-21 salary was $11 million, and it will increase based on his performance this past year.

The Heat could have some flexibility depending on what they do with Dragic and Iguodala. Letting The Dragon go and picking up the former UCLA Bruin might be the best move. Ball is younger, a better playmaker, is much better defensively.

Whatever the Heat offer, it better be big. Since Ball is a restricted free agent, the New Orleans Pelicans can match Miami’s offer. It’s unclear how badly the Pelicans want their point guard back, but having Zion Williamson as the primary ball-handler last year could’ve diminished Ball’s value to them. If the Heat make an offer that is right out of their range, Miami could pull off the biggest steal of the offseason.